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Friday 17 February 2012
New Alexandra hospital and ambulance station officially opens
Minister for Health David Davis today officially opened the $20.6million new AlexandraDistrictHospital and the town’s new 24-hour ambulance station.
Mr Davis said the modern hospital housedall health and community services under one roof making it highly accessible for both patients and staff.
“In December 1871, the AlexandraDistrictHospital was officially opened as a public hospital containing five beds,” Mr Davis said.
“One hundred and forty years later we are now here to open this 31-bed, 21st century state-of-the-art facility.”
Mr Davis said the new hospital features 25 acute and six day stay beds, along with a new operating theatre and primary care area, gymnasium and administration area.
“It also contains a pathology, x-ray and ultrasound area, as well as an urgent care area with two consulting rooms, three standard bays and a resuscitation room,” Mr Davis said.
“The new facility will also provide for service expansion in the future and allow the hospital to expand its extensive range of local and visiting services.
“The new Alexandra ambulance station, built as part of this project, delivers modern office and training space and bedrooms for local paramedics who provide the highest quality clinical care during medical emergencies.”
Mr Davis said the Victorian Coalition Government had invested $151 million to recruit an additional 310 paramedics and 30 patient transport officers and $18 million to deliver new and upgraded ambulance stations.
“The Alexandra ambulance service has been extended to a 24-hour operation as part this commitment,” Mr Davis said.
“This includes $50,000 to modify the new ambulance station to incorporate bedrooms for the paramedics who work night shift.
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“In the wider Hume region, the Coalition Government’s investment will also see a new 24-hour ambulance branch built in Wallan and 40 new paramedics and six newpatient transport officers across the region.
“NewMICA single responder units will be based in Wodonga, Shepparton and Wangaratta.
“The CoalitionGovernment is committed to working with Ambulance Victoria and local communities to ensure all Victorians have access to the highest quality ambulance service able to deliver timely responses during emergencies.”
Media contact:Kathryn McFarlane 0419 850 201