WHILE Rosebud Hospital will undergo a major $4m refurbishment to boost patient safety, modernise facilities, and improve emergency care access, Member for Nepean Sam Groth has told The News the amount falls well short of the investment required.
During a visit to the hospital last week, Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas confirmed the funding, which will support upgrades to ventilation systems, infection control, and the emergency department – designed to enhance care for patients and working conditions for staff.
The upgrade will include the installation of new ventilation and infection control systems, helping to improve overall hospital hygiene and safety standards. The emergency care area will also be redesigned to improve patient flow, accessibility, and comfort for those accessing urgent treatment.
“Every Victorian deserves access to safe, modern healthcare, no matter where they live – we’re backing Rosebud Hospital to continue delivering high quality care for the Mornington Peninsula community,” Thomas said. “This $4m refurbishment will modernise Rosebud Hospital – meaning safer, more comfortable, more accessible facilities for patients and staff.”
Operated by Peninsula Health, Rosebud Hospital provides essential services to more than 130,000 residents and visitors across the southern Mornington Peninsula. It offers a wide range of care including emergency treatment, planned surgery, and community health programs such as same-day renal dialysis, chemotherapy, dental services, and mental health support, as well as a recently launched melanoma clinic.
The hospital has also recently benefited from additional funding including $373,000 for a new X-ray system via the medical equipment replacement program and $710,000 through the Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund to upgrade and relocate community mental health services. A complete energy efficiency overhaul was also undertaken including the installation of solar panels and upgraded air conditioning.
Eastern Victoria MP Tom McIntosh welcomed the news saying, “Rosebud Hospital is a much-loved local hospital – this upgrade will help staff to continue delivering the very best care for years to come.”
Meanwhile, the major $1.1b redevelopment of Frankston Hospital continues to advance. The new 12-storey hospital tower will include 130 new beds, new spaces for mental health services and 15 new operating theatres.
While welcoming the investment at Rosebud Hospital, Sam Groth, Member for Nepean, said it fell well short of what was needed. “At the 2022 state election, I committed a Liberal government to fund the $340m Rosebud Hospital redevelopment – a pledge that has still not been matched by Labor. “The amount promised by Labor for upgrades to ventilation and the emergency care area is a little over one percent of the total redevelopment cost.
“I have written to the Minister for Health about Rosebud Hospital and visited the site many times, and have spoken about it in state parliament on 22 occasions. “Now, after more than a decade in government, a Labor Health Minister has visited Rosebud Hospital, but still won’t fund the redevelopment. “I will keep fighting for the Rosebud Hospital redevelopment that the community needs.”
First published in the Mornington News – 7 October 2025
