One year since it opened its doors to patients in Melbourne’s west, more than 6,000 babies have been delivered at the world-class Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital in St Albans.

Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos marked the hospital’s first birthday today by thanking the more than 600 staff and dozens of volunteers who work tirelessly to provide the highest level of care for all patients, including mums and their newborns.

The first baby born at the hospital – Tallia Baez Mikhael – also celebrated her birthday today. Tallia was delivered by caesarean section and was one of 6,054 babies born at the hospital in its first year, including 102 sets of twins.

Since opening, the hospital has treated 22,780 patients, including 10,434 children, and has allowed local mums to give birth and access specialist services closer to home.

The hospital provides women and families in Melbourne’s western suburbs state-of-the art maternity and paediatric services, and features the area’s first neonatal intensive care unit to treat the most critically ill patients.

It includes 20 maternity delivery rooms, 237 beds, 39 special care nursery cots, four theatres and additional clinics, and covers more floor space than the MCG.

The hospital is forecast to deliver 7,000 babies each year by 2026.