mmg.com.au

A $4million redevelopment at Shepparton Private Hospital will provide more jobs for the community and improved endoscopy services to patients.

After 15 years of planning, a new day procedure building has been approved with funding by hospital operator Ramsay Health Care.

Work on the redevelopment will start in January and the building is expected to open in May.

Hospital chief executive Sheryl Keir said the redevelopment would free up in-patient beds, more patients could be admitted and endoscopy services would be ‘‘greatly’’ improved.

‘‘Currently we’ve got a six-bed day stay unit and a lot of our in-patient beds are being used for same day patients. It will free up in-patient beds and we will be able to have more admissions,’’ Ms Keir said.

‘‘There’s still a lot of doubt in the minds of some staff if this is actually going to happen, the plans have never made it to council. This has dated back 15 years and they’ve heard it all before, but nothing ever happens — well, it’s happening.’’

Ms Keir said four initial nursing staff members would be employed and they were yet to review the needs for the support services.

She said the new building, measuring 16m by 110m, would include a 12-bed procedure room and a 10-chair departure lounge.

The new building will be located at the rear of the hospital attached by two corridors — one will lead to the entrance and the other will be linked directly to the operating theatres.

Ms Keir said during construction there would be an upgrade to the power supply, which would cause minor disruption to the hospital, having to rely on a back-up generator for about 30 minutes.

Hospital director clinical services Margot McGrath has spent more than 12 months working on staff recruitment to ensure staff hired were appropriately skilled.

‘‘We’re just really excited about the redevelopments here, it’s a major coup for Shepparton Private Hospital and the broader community,’’ Ms McGrath said.

A Sydney contractor was appointed by Ramsay Health Care to manage the redevelopment.