Royal Children's Hospital handed $66m after fear new beds would sit empty

Key points

• The Victorian government has committed an extra $66 million to staff 20 new beds at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. The beds were promised under a $55 million upgrade in 2018 and were due to open in November, but staff had warned they would sit empty without funding.
• The package funds 85 extra full-time equivalent nursing positions, including up to 25 graduate nurses. The government says the beds will be staffed and ready to treat children when they open in December.
• Premier Ben Carroll said the beds would let an extra 13,000 children receive emergency care.