The state Government of Victoria in Australia has announced that the A$1.1bn ($728.7m) redevelopment work on the Frankston Hospital is progressing on schedule and has reached the halfway mark.  

It is claimed to be Victoria's largest health infrastructure investment in Melbourne's south-east region. 

The Victorian Health Building Authority, in collaboration with Peninsula Health and the Exemplar Health consortium, is overseeing the project. 

Victoria Health Infrastructure Minister Mary-Anne Thomas also visited the Frankston Hospital site to inspect the ongoing work, noting the completion of concrete slabs for the first seven floors of the new clinical services tower. 

The tower, now a major feature of the Frankston skyline, will stand at 12 storeys upon completion.  

Concurrently, the construction of a new seven-level multi-deck car park has reached its peak. Crews are currently working on the car park's façade and installing essential services on the lower floors, which will soon be available for use by the Peninsula Health staff. 

Since the commencement of major construction in June 2022, more than 700,000 hours have already been dedicated to the project.  

Workers have poured 29,000m³ of concrete and installed 4,000t of steel.  

The hospital’s upcoming clinical services tower will add 130 beds, 15 operating theatres, and separate mental health and cancer treatment facilities. 

Frankston Hospital redevelopment is expected to complete in late 2025 and will be operational in 2026. 

Thomas said: “The bigger and better Frankston Hospital is going up quickly – workers are on-site every day to deliver the massive project which will support 35,000 more people every year, get care close to home.”  

Peninsula Health staff are already benefiting from the redevelopment, with teams moving to new administrative areas provided by the refurbishment and expansion of the hospital’s emergency department.  

The focus now shifts to constructing a new short stay unit and entrance of emergency department.  

Upon completion, the hospital is expected to treat 35,000 additional patients annually, easing the burden on surrounding hospitals and reducing wait times. 

The growing community will also benefit from improved women's and children's services, including a special care nursery, a women's clinic, as well as new maternity, obstetrics, and paediatric wards.