Point Cook Community Hospital

The community hospitals program aims to achieve the following benefits:

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

Staying healthy locally

Community hospitals will also help keep local communities healthy by providing links to other local health care 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.

The program will support new developments in the City of Whittlesea, Eltham area, Point Cook and Fishermans Bend, relocate and expand existing health services on a new site at Cranbourne, Pakenham and Torquay and upgrade or expand existing health services at Craigieburn, Phillip Island, and Sunbury.

Managed by Western Health, the Point Cook Community Hospital will provide a range of public health services including:

• diagnostic services, including pathology and imaging
• pharmacy services
• public dental services
• chronic disease management
• mental health services
• alcohol and other drug support services
• day surgery
• dialysis and support for both home patients and those that receive centre-based dialysis
• community-based palliative care, chemotherapy and rehabilitation
• general practice including primary care nursing
• women’s health
• family and early childhood services
• 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 input and are committed to keeping the local community up to date as the Community Hospitals Program progresses.

Community input and feedback received up to June 2020 has shaped the service design and early service planning phase of the project.

Throughout this initial planning and service design phase, we have:

• engaged key stakeholders and project partners including the managing health service
• surveyed the lived experience of Victorians interacting with the public health system
• established ten community consultative committees
• produced and distributed over 2,000 pieces of communication
• received more than 4,500 pieces of feedback

We’ll continue to use the community’s feedback to help inform the next phase of planning.

The Point Cook Community Hospital community consultative committee 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 Point Cook community consultative committee is co-chaired by Jill Hennessy MP, Member for Altona and Ingrid Stitt MP, Member for Western Metropolitan.

Contact the Point Cook Community Hospital community consultative committee chair via email: Ingrid.Stitt@parliament.vic.gov.au.

Please direct project enquiries and feedback to communityhospitals@health.vic.gov.au.

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 Point Cook Community Hospital be located?

The Point Cook Community Hospital will be a new development, built on a new site.

We are still in the planning stage for community hospitals and are working closely with key stakeholders to find the best possible site for the Point Cook Community Hospital.

What services will the Point Cook Community Hospital provide?

The Point Cook Community Hospital will provide a range of public health services including:

• diagnostic services, including pathology and imaging
• pharmacy services
• public dental services
• chronic disease management
• mental health services
• alcohol and other drug support services
• day surgery
• dialysis and support for both home patients and those that receive centre-based dialysis
• community-based palliative care, chemotherapy and rehabilitation
• general practice including primary care nursing
• women’s health
• family and early childhood services
• 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 Point Cook Community Hospital?

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

Which health service provider will manage the Point Cook Community Hospital?

Western Health will manage the Point Cook Community Hospital. Western Health is a major provider of acute, maternity, and specialist services in western region of Melbourne. More information on Western Health can be found on their website.

How can I have my say on the Point Cook Community Hospital?

The community consultative committee provides a forum for you to have your say on Point Cook Community Hospital’s planning and development.

Contact the Point Cook Community Hospital community consultative committee chair via email: Ingrid.Stitt@parliament.vic.gov.au or Jill.Hennessy@parliament.vic.gov.au.

Further information

Please direct project enquiries and feedback to communityhospitals@health.vic.gov.au.