Construction of the new Northern Private Hospital at New Epping has reached a significant milestone, with the facility now structurally complete.

The first stage of the new $133 million private hospital, from Australia’s largest private hospital operator, Ramsay Health Care, is on track to open in early 2024.

Located within New Epping, a community underpinned by wellness and sustainability, the private hospital will play an essential role in amplifying the local healthcare sector.

The Northern Private Hospital will be co-located next to the existing public Northern Hospital, with a direct connection via a link bridge. These facilities will be further supported by an additional 7-hectare health, wellness and knowledge precinct to provide allied health services and research facilities to the area.

Riverlee development director David Lee says that the vision for New Epping is to create a vibrant community in the northern suburbs, with a focus on wellness and sustainability, and this milestone brings the project one step closer.

“The development will play a huge role in meeting the healthcare and housing demands of this growing area, and the new Northern Private Hospital is an integral part of that,” Mr Lee said.

“We are proud to be partnering with Ramsay Health Care to deliver this important project, as part of the New Epping development. The biggest reward will be seeing the positive impact that it will have on this growing region upon its completion – economically, environmentally and socially.”

Private hospitals play an important role in the healthcare system by providing care to those who opt into private health insurance which takes pressure off the public system. Further to this, the additional private investment by Ramsay Health Care at New Epping will complement significant ongoing government investment at the adjoining Northern Hospital (public) to create community-wide benefits, including easier access to services and specialists in the local area. This enables attraction from allied health services as well as education and research organisations to bolster and diversify the local employment offering, by creating more opportunities for healthcare professionals to live and work in the area.

Northern Private Hospital CEO, Shaune Gillespie, said construction of the landmark facility in the booming growth corridor north of Melbourne followed an environmentally conscious design.

“The building incorporates recycled materials, chilled beams for enhanced thermal comfort, solar power and energy-efficient lighting,” Mr Gillespie said.

“This focus on sustainability will continue as we now look to the internal features of the hospital, with fixtures, fittings and appliances chosen for their water conservation and energy efficiency. Northern Private Hospital has been designed to help patients while also protecting our planet for future generations.”

The first stage of the private hospital will provide 70 inpatient beds, including four for high-dependency patients and six in the critical care unit. Stage one also includes 10 oncology chairs, four state-of-the-art operating theatres, a cardiac catheterisation laboratory and an innovative super-theatre featuring both a hybrid and general theatre for flexibility of use.

View construction update timelapse here.