• Dandenong Star

By Bridget Cook

11th March 2010 11:00:19 AM

Health Minister Daniel Andrews inspects Dandenong Hospital’s new $1.5 million laboratory with Southern Health chief executive Shelly Park and hospital board chairwoman Barbara Yeoh. 43808Picture: Donna Oates

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DANDENONG Hospital has unveiled a new $1.5 million laboratory that will benefit people with heart disease.

It will provide patients with better-quality health services including improved endo-vascular imaging and stent insertion.

“This angiography suite will give Dandenong patients access to a broader range of minimally invasive vascular procedures,” Health Minister Daniel Andrews said when he inspected the Angiographic Lab last week.

“It will help to minimise their stay in hospital, and allow them to get back on their feet sooner.”

The procedure of inserting aortic stents previously required major surgery, a stay in intensive care and about four normal bed days stay in hospital. The new lab will cut this back to an overnight stay.

Southern Health chief executive Shelly Park said the new lab was a boost for patients and staff.

“Our hospitals need to stay abreast of developments and technology to ensure they continue to provide the best possible care to patients,” Ms Park said.

“Funding such as this enables our hospitals to take advantage of advances in technology and buy the most up-to-date systems to improve patient treatment and diagnosis.”

The State Government contributed $1.2 million to the lab, which was completed last December.

The hospital has performed 11 stent grafts on patients in the new facility since then.

The State Government has also invested $25 million in a new emergency department at Dandenong hospital, where construction is underway, and has allocated $69 million for 150 acute mental-health beds in Dandenong and nearby areas.

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