By ALESHA CAPONE
A $25 MILLION private hospital could be built in St Albans, if Brimbank City Council approves the proposal.
The council has received a planning permit application for a private hospital at 145-149 Furlong Rd, a site presently occupied by a medical centre.
Brimbank’s director of city development, Stuart Menzies, said the council was yet to make a decision on the proposal.
“The application is being assessed and the statutory process will include public notification to surrounding land owners and occupiers,” Mr Menzies said.
Mr Menzies said Brimbank City Council hopes to eventually create a health, wellbeing and education precinct around Sunshine Hospital.
The hospital proposal includes up to 150 beds and more than 300 car parking spaces for employees, patients and visitors.
Doctor Laurie Williams is a co-owner of the present Sunshine Private Medical Centre at 145-149 Furlong Rd, plus the site’s Western Day Surgery and Sunshine Private Consulting Rooms.
He has practised as an obstetrician and gynaecologist in the West for 40 years and said he has a passion for improving health services in the area.
Dr Williams said if the private hospital is built, it will likely include services such as gynaecology, maternity, IVF, ophthalmology, endoscopy, urology and cardiac surgery.
“The development will also provide an expansion of the existing specialist consulting services, a general practice, a dental clinic, radiology services, pharmacy and café,” he said.
Dr Williams the private hsoiptal’s construction phase would provide jobs for between 80 to 100 people.
“The new hospital will provide ongoing employment for 120-140 people, including management, nurses, administrative staff, cleaners, maintenance workers, allied health, technicians and doctors,” he said.
Dr Williams said within the West, there was a high demand for all medical services provided by large hospitals and the proposed private hospital could help “alleviate that pressure”.
“The main benefit is better access to specialist and general medical services to local people who would otherwise have to travel to the other side of Melbourne for treatment,” he said.
“We intend to work closely with leaders at the Sunshine Public Hospital to provide better access to healthcare for local people.”
