By Peter Douglas
You’d be hard-pressed to walk the streets of a hills town without bumping into someone who wasn’t born at the Angliss Hospital.
Though this is understandable, given the hospital recently celebrated its 100,000th birth at the much-loved icon.
To mark the milestone, Monbulk MP James Merlino, Eastern Health Chief Executive Officer David Plunkett, and City of Knox councillors Darren Pearce and Jake Keogh were among the attendees at a special celebration held at the hospital on Friday 1 September.
Though the main attraction was baby Taylor and her mother Elise, of Chirnside Park, who were only too happy to help with festivities.
The hospital’s milestone baby came into the world on 10.25am on Monday 31 July.
Taylor is Elise’s third girl, with all being delivered at the Angliss Hospital.
Since opening in 1939, the 100,000th delivery represents more than just a number, but also decades of commitment and technological advancement.
Speaking in front of a reverent crowd, Edwina Dowling, a midwife for over 25 years at the hospital, said it was important to remember the hospital’s history.
“We’ve witnessed incredible change in maternity services, particularly over the past several years,” she said.
“Parents now expect a healthy journey through childbirth, but that wasn’t always the case. A hundred years ago many feared childbirth because there were many deaths and bad experiences for both mother and child.
“With technological advances, we now have everything we need to provide a positive experience.
“It still gives me goosebumps when a mother first sees their new child, or when a child gets to see their brother or sister for the first time.”
However, Ms Dowling said it was important to remember not all occasions were so joyous, with many enduring the pain of losing a newborn.
She said the hospital now had the services and staff to provide a holistic service.
Over the course of the hospital’s history, the largest baby born at Angliss weighed in at 5.76kgs (12.68 pounds); while the lightest was 980g (2.16 pounds) and born at 26 weeks, and staying on at the hospital for three months before going home.
For the record, more boys than girls have been born at the hospital.
On behalf of Health Minister Jill Hennessy, local MP James Merlino said the hospital had an incredible reputation.
“It’s uncanny how many people were born here and now have children here; it’s given me a great deal of pleasure to be a part of this celebration.”
Meanwhile, progress on a capital expansion project at the hospital remains on track.
Eastern Health Executive Director of Information, Technology and Capital Projects, Zoltan Kokai, said the expansion would deliver significant improvements to the hospital’s clinical environment.
Mr Kokai said highlights of the expansion included the construction of a fourth level above the main hospital building, which would increase the capacity of the hospital’s critical care services.
“The project will deliver a new intensive care unit to enhance critical care services. It will also include an expanded emergency department short-stay unit that will provide care for patients who require a stay of up to 24 hours,” he said.
“In addition, the paediatric emergency and short stay area will also be refurbished.”
Mr Merlino inspected the hospital on Friday to view how works were progressing.
Stage one of the project has now been completed and inpatient services have been relocated to the new fourth level.
This will facilitate stage two works, which will include expanded short stay and paediatric facilities on the second level.
