A MAMMOTH spend will try to overhaul Victoria’s crisis-ridden mental health system.

But the Andrews Government is holding back its announcement of plans for a new Footscray Hospital, delaying details of what is expected to be a $700+ million project closer to this year’s election.

Instead, almost $650 million has been poured in to rebuild mental health and addiction services — more than double the state’s psychiatric spending last year and more than six times what was spent on the sector in 2013/14.

Distressed mental health service providers last year revealed turning away up to two out of three people desperate for help, including many who go on to commit violent crimes due to their unmet needs.

In response, specialist mental health crisis hubs will be built in emergency departments at The Royal Melbourne, St Vincent’s, Monash Medical Centre, Geelong, Sunshine and Frankston hospitals.

Community-based services to cut the number of sick Victorians reaching crisis levels will receive a boost of more than $260 million, including 89 new hospital inpatient beds, to cater for 12,800 psychiatric patients over the next four years.

Elective surgery will also be ramped up to significantly slash waiting lists in a $128 million election year blitz, covering the equivalent of 14,370 hip replacements.

After failing to attract Federal Government or private backers for its $540 million Victorian Heart Hospital, the State Government will pour in an extra $306 million to cover the cost of the project.

Archaic sections of The Alfred hospital will also receive a $69.5 million overhaul, while patients in Melbourne’s west will benefit from a new Sunshine Hospital emergency department.

Much of the announced health building program is centred on regional hospitals, including a $462 million expansion of Ballarat Base Hospital featuring a new emergency department and intensive care unit.

Wonthaggi Hospital’s emergency department will also be expanded in a $115 million project.

One of the biggest benefits for patients will be through the $124 million rollout electronic medical records for Parkville hospitals, however there has not been any additional funding to plan or prepare for the building of a new Royal Melbourne Hospital.

The Aitkenhead Centre for Medical Discovery, proposed to be located at St Vincent’s Hospital, remains stalled without Federal Funding to match the previously allocated $60 million in state support.