Residents of Melbourne’s northern suburbs can look forward to a new healthcare facility as the long-awaited Mernda Community Hospital prepares to open next week. Announced by Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, this facility is part of a commitment made during the 2018 election campaign by then-premier Daniel Andrews to establish small hospitals across Greater Melbourne.
The Mernda Community Hospital will provide essential services such as allied health, pathology, and early childhood care. From February 2024, it will expand to include dialysis and community mental health services. This initiative aims to alleviate pressure on larger hospitals by offering local residents immediate access to care for minor injuries, illnesses, and chronic conditions.
Located approximately 26 kilometres north-east of the Melbourne CBD, Mernda has experienced significant population growth, increasing from just 6,500 residents at the beginning of the 2010s to a much larger community today. The new hospital is expected to be a crucial resource for families, enabling them to receive same-day care without the need for lengthy travel.
“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,” Thomas stated during the announcement.
In addition to the excitement surrounding the Mernda facility, questions linger for residents in nearby areas such as Pakenham and Point Cook, where two other hospital projects remain in limbo. Local state Labor MP Lauren Kathage emphasized the importance of the Mernda Community Hospital, noting it will reduce the need for constituents to travel to Epping Hospital, which can take 15 to 20 minutes under optimal traffic conditions.
“It has been a matter of great excitement to see that the investment in health is coming right here to where people live,” Kathage remarked, highlighting the local community’s anticipation for improved healthcare access.
As Melbourne continues to grow, the opening of the Mernda Community Hospital marks a significant step in addressing the healthcare needs of its expanding population. While the focus is now on this new facility, attention will also remain on the status of the remaining hospitals promised during the previous election campaign, as residents in Pakenham and Point Cook await further developments.
