During a visit to the centre last week, Health Minister Daniel Andrews last week announced a $321.5million package to fund an extra 276 beds state-wide.

He said Southern Health would receive $12.7million

for an extra 23acute beds and 28 sub-acute beds.

Monash Medical Centre will house five of the new beds, including a neonatal intensive-care unit cot.

Speaking during the launch, Mr Andrews said the funding meant Southern Health would be able to treat an extra 4578 patients each year and focus on treating elective-surgery patients.

Southern Health chief executive Shelly Park said the boost included funding to treat more highly dependent patients outside the intensive-care unit.

It would also enable emergency departments to treat patients sooner, Ms Park said.