UPDATE: The long-awaited Mernda Community Hospital is set to open its doors on October 30, 2023, marking a significant step in fulfilling a seven-year promise to improve healthcare access in Greater Melbourne. This announcement, made by Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas on October 28, 2023, brings relief to residents as two other community hospitals in Pakenham and Point Cook still await their turn.
The new facility, located 26 kilometers north-east of Melbourne’s CBD, will initially provide essential services including allied health, pathology, and early childhood services. Starting in February 2024, the hospital will expand its offerings to include dialysis and community mental health services. This development comes amid increasing demand for local healthcare, as the population of Mernda has surged from just 6,500 residents in the early 2010s to nearly quadruple that number today.
Minister Thomas emphasized the importance of local healthcare access, stating, “It’s all about delivering the everyday kind of care that people need to access – and want to be able to access – close to home.” The facility aims to alleviate the burden on larger hospitals by providing same-day care for minor injuries, illnesses, and chronic conditions, eliminating lengthy travel times for residents.
Local state Labor MP Lauren Kathage expressed excitement about the hospital’s opening, highlighting that it will save residents a trip to Epping Hospital, which can take 15 to 20 minutes in good traffic. Kathage stated, “It has been a matter of great excitement to see that the investment in health is coming right here to where people live.”
As the Mernda Community Hospital prepares for its opening, residents in Pakenham and Point Cook are left with questions about the timelines for their promised facilities. The need for accessible healthcare is pressing, and many are eager for updates on when they can expect similar services in their areas.
The opening of the Mernda facility is part of a broader initiative launched during the 2018 election campaign by then-premier Daniel Andrews, who pledged to build ten small hospitals to address crowded emergency departments across Melbourne. As local communities anticipate the arrival of these essential services, the focus will now shift to the next steps for the hospitals in Pakenham and Point Cook.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed as updates on these developments unfold. The Mernda Community Hospital is poised to become a vital resource in the region, transforming local healthcare access and ensuring families can receive necessary care close to home.
