A local doctor is urging the state government to reconsider its plan to build the Point Cook Community Hospital.
In the lead up to the November 2018 election, the state government announced it would spend $675 million to build 10 community hospitals in major growth areas, including Point Cook.
The hospital was slated to open at some point in 2026 after several years of delay.
Dr Joe Garra said that specialist services such as chemotherapy and dialysis treatment that will be provided when the facility eventually opens could have been provided at Werribee Mercy.
“It is nothing that couldn’t have been done at Werribee Mercy by giving more funding to the bigger hospital up the road, which would have been a much more efficient use of money,” he said.
“We just need to make Werribee Mercy bigger because we already have the infrastructure there– you don’t need two hospitals that close together.
“All that stuff is already there, it’s not that difficult to make a hospital bigger.”
Dr Garra also said that the name of the facility does not accurately reflect its role.
“They are being a bit disingenuous calling it a community hospital– to the general public that is somewhere you can go and stay overnight for treatment,” he said.
“It’s great having extra services, but to call it a community hospital is a bit of a stretch.
“I call it Point Cook day clinic, because it’s not what people think it is supposed to be.
“Its basically a fancy community day facility.”
Dr Garra urged the state government reconsidered the project before construction starts and consider a better way to use health resources.
“It has taken a long time to build a little day clinic– it puzzles me why they just didn’t give it to the existing hospital.”
Star Weekly understands that the state government is currently doubling the emergency department at Werribee Mercy. Once completed the emergency department will cater to more than 25,000 patients a year.
The state government was contacted for comment on its community hospital plans.
