Emergency care capacity doubled at GV Health

UPGRADES... Bob and Lauren Knowles with their daughter Greta, aged 5, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2021, with the Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley and Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed for the opening of the new special care nursery and paediatric ward at GV Health. Photo: Deanne Jeffers.

CONSTRUCTION at Goulburn Valley Health’s emergency department is on track to be completed in August, doubling the capacity of emergency care in Shepparton.

Minister for Health, Martin Foley officially opened the hospital’s new 10-cot special care nursey and 12-bed paediatric ward, along with the next state of the expanded emergency department.

“This is a $230M plus program that has had to take into account the delivery in a Covid environment. I want to thank Goulburn Valley Health and their various contractors for achieving what’s been really challenging,” he said.

The newly redeveloped emergency department includes 36 treatment spaces including nine short-stay beds for patients who require less than 24-hours care, doubling existing capacity. It is also fitted out with the latest technology, featuring two new x-ray rooms, a CT scan room, and an ultrasound room.

Local family Lauren, Bob and five-year-old Greta Knowles have frequented GV Health since Greta was diagnosed with leukaemia last year.

“While she does receive a lot of her treatment in Melbourne, for emergency trips — of which we’ve had five since last school holidays — it makes a massive difference that we can come here rather than drive two hours to Melbourne,” Lauren said.

“The staff have been amazing throughout, but it’s made a big difference to us coming into a new, state-of-the-art facility that’s bright and fresh.”

The new paediatric ward has 12 beds and it has been designed to create a colourful and comforting environment for children.
Independent Member for Shepparton District, Suzanna Sheed, said the updates are crucial as many parents across Northern Victoria and southern New South Wales come to GV Health for maternity services.

“We really service a wide area and the facilities that are needed are so important,” she said.

The final part of the redevelopment is the refurbishment of existing operating theatres, expected to be completed by the end of the year.

These works are on top of the already delivered 16-bed dialysis unit and the five-storey inpatient unit, which includes 10 intensive care unit beds, 64 inpatient beds and four new operating theatres.

UPGRADES… Bob and Lauren Knowles with their daughter Greta, aged 5, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2021, with the Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley and Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed for the opening of the new special care nursery and paediatric ward at GV Health. Photo: Deanne Jeffers.