A builder has been appointed for the construction of a new community hospital in Point Cook.
Lendlease Building Contractors will begin works this year, the state government announced on Wednesday, June 29.
Community hospitals are small public hospitals that offer health services tailored to local community needs, including urgent care for minor injuries and illnesses, day hospital services including dialysis, paediatric services, allied health and community mental health services.
Point Cook Action Group president Bob Fairclough said the new centre would “greatly assist” local people with medical conditions.
“It’s been on the list for some time, several years, we’re happy that it has finally come to fruition,” he said.
“I think there’s some really good features of the new clinic and one of them is to get to people with non threatening injuries treated quicker.”
The state government hopes the community hospital will take pressure off nearby major hospitals and allow them to focus on critical care, complex health issues and surgeries, emergencies and trauma.
Mr Fairclough also anticipates the centre will reduce the load on nearby doctors clinics, but hopes potential challenges are eliminated before the facility is built.
“We would prefer an early start, and to speed up the process as soon as possible and start construction in order to cater for the increase in population,” he said.
“It would be worthwhile though if it would have extended hours, ultimately 24 hours…”
Once complete, the hospital will have the capacity to treat at least 114,000 more urgent care patients, provide 55,000 dialysis treatments and enable more than 100,000 more allied health sessions each year.
The facility will be fulfilled by the Victorian Health Building Authority, and is expected to be completed by 2024.
