ABC News
The Southern Health network has revealed its plans for a new children's hospital in Melbourne, but it is waiting for State Government approval.
The network wants a 200 bed hospital with paedatric theatres, a cancer center and a bigger outpatient service to be built at the Monash Medical Centre site in Clayton.
It says the project would cost $220 million.
The State Government says the plans will be considered but no decision has been made.
The director of Monash Children's, Professor Nick Freezer says a new hospital is needed to keep up with demand in Melbourne's south-east.
"As the population grows in the south-east the demand for pediatric services increases," he said.
"We're increasing at about 10 percent per annum and at the moment we just can't continue to provide the services with the infrastructure we have in place."
The Health Minister Daniel Andrews says the Government provided planning money for it four years ago.
"Monash does need bigger buildings, they need new buildings and we're currently considering these matters as part of the budget," he said.
"No decision has been made, and again, I strongly support new and bigger buildings for Monash given the number of children they already treat."
The President of AMA Victoria, Dr Harry Hemley says a new hospital for children would help take the pressure off the Royal Children's Hospital.
"We're in the middle of a baby boom at the moment, so we really do need more paediatric and neonatal facilities, especially in the south-east where we've got a big population growth occurring down there now," he said.
"This is a very interesting proposal and should really be considered seriously by the Government."
The Opposition's Health Spokesman, Davis Davis says there is an undeniable need for extra health services in Melbourne's south-east.
"The Coalition supports a Monash Children's in principal," he said.
"There's no doubt that this Government should have been building and should have been focusing on the needs and services for children in the south-east."
The network wants a 200 bed hospital with paedatric theatres, a cancer center and a bigger outpatient service to be built at the Monash Medical Centre site in Clayton.
It says the project would cost $220 million.
The State Government says the plans will be considered but no decision has been made.
The director of Monash Children's, Professor Nick Freezer says a new hospital is needed to keep up with demand in Melbourne's south-east.
"As the population grows in the south-east the demand for pediatric services increases," he said.
"We're increasing at about 10 percent per annum and at the moment we just can't continue to provide the services with the infrastructure we have in place."
The Health Minister Daniel Andrews says the Government provided planning money for it four years ago.
"Monash does need bigger buildings, they need new buildings and we're currently considering these matters as part of the budget," he said.
"No decision has been made, and again, I strongly support new and bigger buildings for Monash given the number of children they already treat."
The President of AMA Victoria, Dr Harry Hemley says a new hospital for children would help take the pressure off the Royal Children's Hospital.
"We're in the middle of a baby boom at the moment, so we really do need more paediatric and neonatal facilities, especially in the south-east where we've got a big population growth occurring down there now," he said.
"This is a very interesting proposal and should really be considered seriously by the Government."
The Opposition's Health Spokesman, Davis Davis says there is an undeniable need for extra health services in Melbourne's south-east.
"The Coalition supports a Monash Children's in principal," he said.
"There's no doubt that this Government should have been building and should have been focusing on the needs and services for children in the south-east."
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