Mums and newborns move into the new Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital

Today, mums and newborn babies will make the historic move into the brand new Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital.

Over seven hours, more than 150 women, children and babies and 200 Western Health staff will transfer from Sunshine Hospital into the new $200 million hospital, officially opened earlier this month.

Attending the move, Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said "This complex move, with some of the west’s most critically ill babies, is a massive effort that involved months of careful planning to ensure safety and comfort for mums and their newborns."

With the modern delivery suites expected to be used for the first time today, the new hospital will see plenty of newborn babies with a forecast to deliver up to 7,000 babies a year by 2026.

Featuring the western suburbs' first ever neonatal intensive care unit, 20 maternity delivery rooms, 237 beds, 39 special care nursery cots, four theatres and additional clinics, this landmark hospital means more local mums will be able to give birth and families can access specialist children's services closer to home.

For more information, visit the Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital project page.