The Allan Labor Government is ensuring families in Kilmore and the surrounding region have the care they need closer to home, delivering funding for upgrades to maternity services at Kilmore District Hospital.
Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes today announced Northern Health’s Kilmore District Hospital has been awarded more than $2.3 million in funding through the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF) to upgrade maternity services, including the relocation of the antenatal clinic to the main hospital building.
At present, the antenatal clinic is located in the outpatient consulting building away from the hospital’s Birth Suite, pregnancy assessment, imaging and pathology services. The project will see the antenal clinic relocated to the main hospital building to ensure all maternity services are co-located.
This will ensure that families from Kilmore and surrounding areas can access the maternity services they need in one convenient location, closer to home and loved ones. More than 160 mums and mums-to-be will benefit each year from these upgrades.
The new facility will also provide increased capacity for visiting specialists and the health service’s staff will also benefit from operational efficiencies gained through the co-location of the antenatal clinic with the hospital’s other maternity services.
The project will also involve converting unused rooms into four consulting rooms and a waiting room as well as the refurbishment of other facilities into storage and office spaces, a new nursery and reception area.
This latest announcement builds on more than $4.3 million in RHIF funding for the Kilmore District Hospital previously including for a theatre service upgrade and car parking and signage redevelopment.
Across Victoria the latest round of RHIF grants is supporting rural and regional hospitals, community health services and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to ensure they can continue to provide safe and efficient care to local communities.
With 45 projects across 39 rural and regional health services, the program is ensuring communities continue to have access to high quality care, no matter where they live, while also supporting hundreds of jobs across the state.
Established by the Labor Government in 2016 and overseen by the Victorian Health Building Authority, the RHIF program is now worth $790 million, making it the largest ever dedicated grants program in Victoria’s history. To date, it has delivered more than 675 projects funded for regional health services.
More information on RHIF can be found at vhba.vic.gov.au/health/regional-facilities/regional-health-infrastructure-fund.
Quotes attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
“Kilmore District Hospital do outstanding work and by upgrading their facilities we’re helping them continue doing what they do best - bringing precious new lives into the world.”
“New and improved facilities at Kilmore District Hospital will ensure local mums and mums-to-be have access to the best possible maternity care, closer to home and loved ones.”
