Pakenham Community Hospital

The Community hospitals program aims to achieve the following benefits:

Better services closer to home

The Victorian Government is investing $675 million to develop 10 community hospitals in major growth areas across Victoria. These facilities will provide more locally available public healthcare options and better access to important everyday health services close to home.

Services will be tailored to each community and may include urgent care services, day surgery for minor procedures, public dental and specialist appointments.

Stronger links to specialist care

Community hospitals will also help keep local communities healthy by providing links to other local healthcare providers including GPs, allied health services, specialists, social services and major hospitals if more complex care is required.

Reduce pressure on major hospitals

Community hospitals will also reduce pressure on major public hospitals and emergency departments. This will assist major hospitals to focus on critical care, complex health issues and surgeries, emergencies and trauma while our community hospitals support locals to manage their everyday health needs and access community services.

Meeting increased demand

As Victoria’s population grows and healthcare needs change, community hospitals will help meet increasing demand for public health services in major Victorian growth areas.

Once complete, the ten community hospitals will have the capacity to treat at least 114,000 more urgent care patients each year. They’ll support 55,000 dialysis treatments and enable more than 100,000 additional allied health sessions each year.

The program will support:

• new developments in the City of Whittlesea, Eltham area, Point Cook and Emerald Hill
• relocate and expand existing health services on a new site at Cranbourne, Pakenham and Torquay
• upgrade or expand existing health services at Craigieburn, Phillip Island, and Sunbury.

Managed by Monash Health, the Pakenham Community Hospital will be an expansion of services currently offered at Pakenham Community Health Centre and built on a new site. It will offer a range of public services including:

• specialist appointments
• allied health and rehabilitation services
• pharmacy services
• women’s health
• social support services
• paediatric care
• diagnostic services, including pathology and imaging
• public dental services
• chronic disease management
• mental health services
• alcohol and drug services
• renal dialysis
• day chemotherapy
• family safety and crisis support services.

Strong links to specialists, community health providers and social support services will ensure more seamless follow-up treatment and support for those who require complex care.

We value community and stakeholder input and are committed to keeping the public informed on the Community hospitals program.

We work closely with key stakeholders across the health sector and local government. We aim to deliver functional and efficient health facilities that are fit-for-purpose, inclusive and that meet community needs.

Our engagement program includes:

• user groups
• working groups
• surveys
• workshops
• tailored engagement with identified key groups, including people with lived experience, Traditional Owners groups and culturally diverse communities.

We’ve established community consultative committees (CCC) to ensure the views and aspirations of the community are considered in the planning and design for each community hospital. Committees are made up of a diverse cross-section of community members, local service providers and organisations who provide a local perspective and considered advice on a range of issues relating to the project.

Our engagement reports provide a summary of the community’s feedback and key priorities at each phase of the project.

View our community engagement report on the service planning phase.

We are in the process of collecting community feedback and input on the design for each community hospital and will share community consultation reports soon.

To stay up-to-date with the program, sign up to our Community Hospital newsletter.

The Pakenham Community Hospital community consultative committee (CCC) provides a forum for local community members to participate in the planning and development of the project through open dialogue and consultation.

The consultative committee includes:

• foundation members from key organisations such as local councils
• health service providers and Aboriginal representation
• community members selected through an independent expression of interest process.

The Pakenham CCC is chaired by Emma Vulin MP, Member for Pakenham.

Meeting summaries can be found on the Community Hospitals community consultative committee meeting summaries page.

What is a community hospital?

Community hospitals are small public hospitals. With extended hours to provide day and after-hours services, community hospitals will provide a range of everyday health services, which may include:

• urgent care service for common minor injuries and illnesses
• day medical services such as chemotherapy and renal dialysis
• day surgery for procedures such as cataract removal, major dental work, gynaecological procedures, colonoscopies and other minor surgical procedures that do not require an overnight stay
• treatment and support for chronic health issues including mental health, alcohol and other drugs, pain management, diabetes and respiratory problems
• family services including child and maternal health, family safety and women’s health
• pathology, pharmacy and diagnostic imaging such as blood tests and x‑rays
• public dental services.

Community hospitals will be located in major growth areas across Victoria and will provide people with better access to many important everyday health services closer to home.

Where will the Pakenham Community Hospital be located?

The Pakenham Community Hospital will be a new development, built on a new site. The services provided will expand those currently provided by Monash Health at the Pakenham Health Centre.

A preferred site for the Pakenham Community Hospital has been identified at 67-69 Main Street, Pakenham. Land for this important facility, which is currently commercially-owned, is in the process of being secured.

What services will the Pakenham Community Hospital provide?

The Pakenham Community Hospital will be an expansion of services currently offered at Pakenham Community Health Centre. It will offer a range of public services including:

• specialist appointments
• allied health and rehabilitation services
• pharmacy services
• women’s health
• social support services
• paediatric care
• diagnostic services, including pathology and imaging
• public dental services
• chronic disease management
• mental health services
• alcohol and drug services
• renal dialysis
• day chemotherapy
• family safety and crisis support services.

Strong links to specialists, community health providers and social support services will ensure more seamless follow-up treatment and support for those who require complex care.

What are the construction timelines for the Pakenham Community Hospital?

Construction is expected to begin in 2022 and be completed in 2024.

Which health service provider will manage the Pakenham Community Hospital?

Monash Health will be manage the Pakenham Community Hospital. Monash Health is a major provider of acute, maternity, sub-acute and specialist services in south-eastern Melbourne. More information on Monash Health can be found on their website.

How can I have my say on the Pakenham Community Hospital?

We have established a community consultative committee to provide a forum for members of the community to have their say on the planning and development of the Pakenham Community Hospital.

What is a community consultative committee?

Community consultative committees are a forum for discussion between government, locals and other stakeholders on a particular project. They provide a space where people can share their ideas, feedback and concerns on a project, and where they can be kept up-to-date with how the project is going.

This project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with:

• Monash Health (managing health service)
• HDR in partnership with Design Inc (architects)
• Lendlease (managing contractor).