Tom Ingleton
Melbourne’s booming north is set for a major health care shake-up, as the state government officially launches an $813 million redevelopment of the Northern Hospital– the city’s busiest emergency department.
Premier Jacinta Allan, alongside Health Infrastructure Minister Melissa Horne and Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, turned the first sod on Sunday to mark the start of stage one: a four-storey Ambulatory Care Centre set to transform outpatient services in the region.
Expected to be complete by mid-2026, the new centre will deliver specialised outpatient and ambulatory services, clinical care, and administrative support, helping ease pressure on the emergency department while future-proofing care for growing suburbs.
Stage two will then bring a new emergency department and inpatient tower, featuring a dedicated paediatric zone, mental health and alcohol and drug hub, inpatient units, an emergency observation unit, and expanded car parking.
The redevelopment will add nearly 200 treatment spaces and cater to 30,000 more emergency patients each year– a vital boost for a region experiencing rapid population growth.
“The massive upgrade of the Northern Hospital means local families will continue to get the best care and treatment– faster and closer to home,” Ms Allan said.
The project is also expected to create up to 2200 jobs during construction and is part of a wider plan to revamp major hospitals across the state, including the Austin and Monash Medical Centre.
Recently, the Northern Health also received a $4.2 million boost to upgrade endoscopy theatres and procedure rooms under the state’s Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund– further enhancing patient safety and efficiency.
Stage one of this redevelopment will play a key role in supporting northern suburbs families– delivering better care and creating good local jobs.” Mill Park MP Lily D’Ambrosio said.
