Just months out from its opening, the new St John of God Berwick Hospital has taken on a life of its own in the Berwick skyline.
Due to open in later this year, internal fittings are underway in the seven-storey $120 million Kangan Drive hospital, which will see the relocation and expansion of services currently offered at the Gibb Street site.
Additions to the new facility include the region’s first intensive care unit and cardiac services with dedicated cardiac beds and a cardiac/ vascular catheter laboratory.
In recent weeks the second and final crane has been dismantled and removed from the new building and the handover of the communications rooms has commenced, allowing critical information communications technology (ICT) infrastructure to be installed on site.
The glass facade is also almost complete and the roof installed, and the building is now watertight.
According to the hospital, this is a significant milestone in the program because it allows trades people to accelerate the internal fit-out of the building.
Along with world-class facilities, the new hospital will also see the addition of 200 ongoing jobs, adding to the already 400-strong staff.
Specialist staff in particular will be required for the cardiac care unit, the cardiac/ vascular catheter laboratory, the additional four theatres and the intensive care unit.
Hospital CEO Lisa Norman said the additional jobs would be a positive opportunity for people living in Casey and Cardinia to work for a ‘values based’ organisation close to home.
She said currently more than 70 per cent of the local community travelled outside the region for employment.
Recruitment for the new positions at St John of God Hospital will begin in July but the CEO said interest was already gaining.
“Interest from doctors has been extremely positive due to new facility and our reputation for delivering exceptional care,” Ms Norman said.
“There is also great benefit for doctors working at a location that has a public and private hospital close to each other.
“We are pleased to be able to provide a wealth of new employment opportunities to the local community and to provide the chance for local residents to seek fulfilling and meaningful work closer to home.”
The hospital will also offer development opportunities for current caregivers who wish to expand their skills in the areas that will be new to the hospital, Ms Norman said.
A tender is currently out for a removalist to relocate the hospital from its current home in the coming months.
