A new air-handling and a new air-conditioning unit were installed over the Christmas and New Year period.

The installation of the updated systems provides an improved operating environment for patients and surgical teams.

During the downtime, Stawell Regional Health took the opportunity to upgrade the operating room theatre lights, with the support of the Hospital Foundation.

Chief executive Kate Pryde said the old lights had reached a point where they were required to be decommissioned.

"Being able to gain the $43,000 funding from the Foundation allowed us to take the opportunity to replace them during this planned closure and avoid another theatre closure for 2020," she said.

"The upgrades ensure we have a theatre that will support us well into the future."

Last year the hospital delivered 1753 surgical procedures. Clinical services acting director Trudi Cameron said it was important the hospital could continue to deliver this service "uninterrupted".

"Closing our theatre is a complex undertaking so being able to bundle all the works together ensures we can continue to run our service," she said.

Perioperative nurse unit manager Sue Campigli said the new lights provided improved agility around the operating table for the theatre team.

The total cost of the project was $890,000.

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Ms Pryde said the recommissioning of a theatre once walls and roof spaces have been breached took an "incredible amount of work".

"I am so very pleased that this year we have completed the theatre upgrade and recommissioned the theatre on time and on target without any additional delays," she said.

"This is a testament to the project management team and all the staff and contractors involved that worked through an incredibly hot Christmas and New Year period to get the job done."

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