Geelong private could be women's hospital

Soon-to-close Geelong Private Hospital could become a dedicated women's and children's hospital, with the state government committing $10 million to investigating options.

Healthscope announced this week it would close its Geelong and Cotham hospitals in Victoria because they were no longer viable, leaving about 400 people out of work.

"We're planning for the establishment of a world-class women's and children's hospital that will give Geelong families the full suite of services they need, closer to home," Premier Daniel Andrews said in a statement on Saturday.

The government will spend $10 million on a study into options to deliver additional maternity and paediatric services for Geelong, as well as more inpatient beds, delivery rooms, operating theatres and clinics.

On Friday the government also announced 117 positions at Barwon Health for Geelong Private Hospital workers.

The positions will be in areas including nursing, allied health, administration and patient services assistant positions.

Extra positions would also be made available at Mercy Health and Western Health, which will work with Healthscope to match nurses and other staff with vacancies at their sites.