The Allan Labor Government has delivered major facility upgrades, including new surgical ventilation and cooling systems, to the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.
Funded through the Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund (MHIF), the $2.6 million project has enabled Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) to upgrade the hospital's ventilation to a full fresh-air system, ensuring safer operating environments.
The project has also upgraded the facility's Central Chiller Plant to provide enhanced cooling capacity and has also delivered enhanced infection control mechanisms.
The MHIF has also supported several lift upgrades at the hospital and the nearby corporate services building with more than $516,000 funding.
The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne provides public dental services and emergency care to Victorians and is a centre of excellence, training the next generation of dentists.
Established as part of the Victorian Budget 2020/21, the MHIF provides funding for construction, remodeling and refurbishment projects, equipment, and information and communication to expand capacity, improve patient amenities, enhance safety, and improve infection prevention and control measures.
Administered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA), the Fund supports metropolitan health services to meet service demand - helping patients return home and get back to work, school, family, or community life.
Funding also enables health services and agencies to adopt new technologies and deliver contemporary models of care, improving the quality and safety of care for patients and staff.
The MHIF has provided $265 million to 112 projects across Melbourne to date.
The Allan Labor Government is investing $213 million through the Victorian Budget 2024/25 to deliver a range of dental health services and the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne, our dedicated dental hospital, is critical to ensuring Victorians get the care they deserve.
As stated by Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas
"The staff at Dental Health Services Victoria do a wonderful job and this project will allow them to continue doing what they do best - supporting the oral health of all Victorians."
"Upgraded ventilation and cooling systems will ensure a safer and more optimal environment for both patients and staff and ensure that more Victorians can access the dental health care they need, closer to home."
