Hospitals 12 March 2026

Sky-high helipad takes flight in Frankston

Earlier this year the $1.1 billion redevelopment of Peninsula University Hospital (formerly Frankston Hospital) opened its doors to patients, with the new sky-high helipad in full flight.

Sitting on top of the brand new 12-level clinical services tower, the helipad provides Ambulance Victoria flight paramedics with direct access into the tower.

This means the moment the helicopter lands, critically ill patients can be transferred straight into theatre or the hospital’s newly expanded emergency department via a dedicated lift, with further modes of transport no longer required.

In its first month of operation, patients were flown in from Wonthaggi and South Gippsland.

With stunning views overlooking the Frankston bay, watch this video for a birds-eye view above the helipad.

New helipad in Frankston takes flight

Accessible transcript

[Images: Footage of helicopter flying in the sky and landing on helipad]

[Images: Anthony De Witt, Manager Air Operations Ambulance Victoria, talking directly to camera]

Anthony: To see this new helipad at Frankston Hospital is a terrific achievement. I was around for the concept when it was first being discussed, into finally now seeing it constructed, is just fantastic. It’s a great achievement for Victoria.

[Images: Dr Olga Gaitsgory, Deputy Director Emergency Department, Bayside Health, talking directly to camera]

Olga: Having direct access to the helipad from the new tower will greatly reduce transport times for patients who are often critically ill, both for incoming patients and outgoing patients. They will have direct access to the emergency department and to theatre, and we know that just minutes can make a difference in a lot of these medical conditions.

[Images: Aerial views of the helipad and new hospital tower]

Anthony: It will also provide an improvement for road resourcing because the older helipad required a road ambulance as part of transfer.

Olga: So we’ve had a lot of refurbishments in our emergency department for the last three years. We’ve got a brand-new waiting room and triage area, and we’ve got some new clinical spaces, and I think it’s going to make for a really positive experience for our patients.

[Images: A screen displays the text “In partnership with” and the Peninsula University Hospital, Exemplar Health and Ambulance Victoria logos. A sliding transition screen then displays the Victorian Health Building Authority and Victoria State Government logos and the url vhba.vic.gov.au]

[End of transcript]

Peninsula University Hospital is operated by Bayside Health (formerly Peninsula Health). For more information, visit the Bayside Health Peninsula website.

Learn more about the Frankston Hospital redevelopment.