The Advertiser reported on March 26 that two cream brick towers at the Anne Caudle Centre site – the east wing, built in 1958, and the north wing, built in 1972 – are constructed in a way that makes it impossible for them to fully comply with standards introduced in 2012. 

Chief executive officer John Mulder has said Bendigo Health wants to relocate services in the building to the current hospital site in Lucan Street once the new hospital opens. 

But that would rely upon state government funding – and a spokesman said on Friday that Health Minister Jill Hennessy had no set plans for the two buildings. 

“While there are currently no specific plans for the two buildings after patients move into the new Bendigo Hospital early next year, the government is happy to work with Bendigo Hospital on possible options for the future use of the towers,” a spokesperson said.

The state government, the spokesperson added, had received assurances from Bendigo Health that the towers were “safe to occupy and that there is no risk to patients”.

Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said Bendigo Health had approached her about its plans to relocate services from the two towers to the current hospital site.

“The hospital talked to us about their plans – how they would like to remove those and move allied health … to the old hospital site,” she said.

“I’m happy to lobby the state government for the additional final stages the hospital says it needs.”

The buildings house dental and rehabilitation services, including a 60-bed ward, and administrative, financial and IT departments. 

Mr Mulder has said that although the buildings don’t comply with current fire standards, they contain a number of safety features and therefore pose no safety risk to patients or staff.

Ms Lovell believed there was no way the hospital would be using the buildings “if they were unsafe”.

The new hospital, situated behind the two buildings, will open in late January.