New $277m hospital in Geelong opens

The first patients have been admitted to the new $277 million Epworth Geelong hospital.

The private hospital's emergency and surgery departments opened on Monday morning as the finishing touches are applied to the 172 private in-patient rooms.

Public patients will also benefit from the hospital though a partnership with the Barwon Health University Hospital that the Epworth says will provide 7000 extra treatments annually to public patients.