With the demand for healthcare continuing to rise in Melbourne’s fast-growing northern growth corridor, the Northern Hospital is undergoing a major redevelopment.
The Victorian Government has committed $813 million to deliver the Northern Hospital Redevelopment Project. The project is part of the Victorian Emergency Department Expansion Program and will deliver a new ambulatory care and administration building, and a new emergency department and Inpatient Unit (IPU) expansion.
The upgraded emergency department will include an alcohol and other drugs hub, dedicated acute behaviour treatment space, and a separate paediatric treatment area.
The new emergency department will be located along Cooper Street, increasing the number of treatment spaces for emergency patients to almost 200. The existing hospital will remain fully operational during construction. The Victorian Health Building Authority and Northern Health will work to minimise disruptions to the community.
Stages
The Northern Hospital Redevelopment Project will be delivered in two stages to ensure minimal disruption to patient care.
Stage 1 comprises the construction of the Ambulatory Care Centre Building. When completed, the ACC building will house administration, clinical and outpatient health services decanted from the existing hospital and portables from the northern part of the hospital campus. Work on site is due to commence in early 2025.
The completion of Stage 1 is a key enabling activity for the second stage of the Northern Hospital Redevelopment Project.
Stage 2 will deliver a new emergency department and inpatient unit tower fronting Cooper Street, including:
- A dedicated paediatric zone, mental health and alcohol and other drugs hub in the new emergency department
- Inpatient units and emergency observation unit in a new clinical tower
- Site infrastructure upgrades supporting the expanding hospital, including engineering services, improvements to hospital entrances and car parks.
Benefits
Northern Hospital Epping has the busiest emergency department in Victoria, treating more than 118,000 patients each year. Northern Health cares for over 129,000 patients admitted to hospital each year, with over 33,000 patients arriving by ambulance.
This two-stage project will enable local families to have access to healthcare close to home as Melbourne’s north continues to grow. The project will also help meet the growing healthcare needs of Melbourne’s north, and deliver expanded and improved facilities and enhanced services to the community.
The Northern Hospital Redevelopment Project is expected to create more than 2,200 jobs during the construction phases.
