Cohuna hospital’s $6.9m theatre upgrade to start in October

By Ryan Bellingham

Sep 27, 2024

Cohuna District Hospital’s new theatre will help to retain and attract healthcare workers in the region. Photo: Supplied by Cohuna District Hospital/Facebook Photo by Supplied

A $6.9 million upgrade to Cohuna District Hospital’s operating theatre suite is set to begin in October.

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The hospital’s existing theatre will be updated to include a modern sterilisation suite which will comply with new national standards.

New post-anaesthesia care unit beds and facilities will also be added, with some medical procedures able to be undertaken within the unit.

Cohuna District Hospital chief executive Bernadette Loughanne said the upgrades will allow the community to access care closer to home, reducing the burden of travel for treatment.

The project will also aid in sustaining the hospital’s skilled surgical workforce and help to attract new surgeons who could live and work in Cohuna, Ms Loughanne said.

A total of $6.3 million was contributed to the project through the Victorian Government’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund, adding to two years of significant local fundraising and a community member’s bequest.

Health Infrastructure Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced on Tuesday, September 24, that construction company Fairbrother had been appointed to build the state-of-the-art theatre complex.

Ms Loughanne said Fairbrother’s workforce and presence would also benefit Cohuna financially.

“The amount of contractors and tradies in town will boost the local economy, whether it's morning tea, breakfast, accommodation, and all the rest,” she said.

The project is due to begin in October and is expected to be completed in August next year.