RESIDENTS keen to get a first-hand look at the results of the $630 million Bendigo hospital upgrade without the stress, strain and pain of being a patient will soon have their chance.

Some 2800 people will be ushered through the new hospital’s doors on December 3 as part of a community tour initiative announced by Bendigo East MP Jacinta Allan on Friday morning.

Those curious about how Victoria’s largest regional hospital development is coming together can put their name forward for a ticket when registrations open later this month.

“This will be a free ticketed event and tours will be about 25 minutes long,” Ms Allan said.

“Spaces are limited and people are encouraged to get in early to book a scheduled tour time when they open on October 24.

“Among the areas to be toured on the day will be emergency, medical imaging, cancer centre, intensive care unit and psychiatry.”

For those who miss out on a ticket, Bendigo Health will be releasing videos on the Bendigo Hospital Project website, showcasing each of the scheduled tours staged on the day.

“This way everyone will have a chance to see inside the hospital on the website at the same time,” Bendigo Health chairman Bob Cameron said.

“It is an extremely busy time for the Bendigo Hospital Project and we are grateful that the hospital project’s consortium, Exemplar Health, can accommodate our request to allow community access at this early stage.

“We know that a lot of people are excited about this project and want to see inside the new facility and this is an opportunity for them to do so.”

The hospital has been 10 years in the planning, designing and building phases. Construction began in 2013 and is scheduled to open in late January.

It will have capacity for 372 inpatient beds, 72 same-day beds and 11 new operating theatres.

Registrations will open on the Bendigo Hospital Project website – www.bendigohospitalproject.org.au – at 9am on Monday, October 24 and will be closed once the allocation is exhausted.