New acquired brain injury unit for Caulfield Hospital

20 Dec 2012

A new $36 million rehabilitation centre for people with an acquired brain injury (ABI) will be established at Alfred Health’s Caulfield Hospital.

Health Minister David Davis and Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips announced the new centre today, which will include inpatient accommodation of 42 beds, a four-bed transitional living service and an ambulatory, community-based outpatient service.

“While the road toll is widely publicised, people talk less about the number of serious injuries sustained on the state’s roads each year. More than 1200 Victorians are living with an acquired brain injury from a road accident,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

“Every four days, someone in Victoria suffers a severe brain injury in a road crash, which results in profound and irreversible change to their lives.

“As a state we must do what we can to limit avoidable tragedies on our roads and to ensure those who do sustain serious injuries are given the best chance of recovery.

“Apart from the physical and emotional distress, a severe acquired brain injury can cost more than $2 million in care over a lifetime,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

Mr Davis said while the new unit at Alfred Health would deal mainly with road trauma patients, it would be available to all Victorian patients requiring comprehensive treatment for acquired brain injuries.

“The inpatient and ambulatory rehabilitation service will provide extended periods of rehabilitation for people who have experienced a severe brain injury,” Mr Davis said.

“This new unit demonstrates the Coalition Government’s active response to growing public health service demand pressures and our commitment to improving and expanding Victoria’s public health infrastructure,” Mr Davis said.

The new unit has been jointly funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth governments. Victoria is contributing $9 million through the Transport Accident Commission and the remaining $27 million is funded by the Commonwealth.

Walton Construction, the appointed builder, will commence on site next month with project construction completion targeted by mid-2014.