$28 million boost for Werribee Mercy Hospital 

The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon and State Health Minister Daniel Andrews announced the first allocation of funding from the National Health and Hospitals Network agreement in Williamstown on 6 August 2010.

"We were delighted to see that $36 million has been allocated to the western suburbs of Melbourne and specifically $28 million to the development of a 30 bed subacute ward and community rehabilitation centre at Werribee Mercy Hospital," said Stephen Cornelissen, Chief Operating Officer, Mercy Health.

Werribee Mercy Hospital already provides community rehabilitation services from an office in Watton Street but, at this stage, does not provide inpatient older persons subacute services. This funding will enable the development of a purpose built facility that will, as Minister Andrews stated, "significantly boost local access to support for older people with complex care needs to return home with maximum independence and function".

People working at Werribee Mercy Hospital will be aware that additional subacute services is one of a number of service needs identified in the hospital's service plan as critical to achieving good health outcomes for the community.

"With such growth in the region, it is good to see that the need to expand the level and type of health service being provided has been recognised by the Victorian and Federal Governments," said Stephen.

"This new project will be considered as part of this process and we will be in a position to give further information on this development later in the year."

Master planning for the overall development of the hospital is being reviewed by the hospital and Department of Health. ...