UPDATE: A local doctor is urgently calling on the State Government of Victoria to reconsider its controversial plan to build the $675 million Point Cook Community Hospital, originally announced ahead of the November 2018 election. This facility, set to open in 2026 after years of delays, has sparked significant debate over its necessity and effectiveness.
Dr. Joe Garra has voiced strong concerns, asserting that vital specialist services like chemotherapy and dialysis could be more efficiently managed at the nearby Werribee Mercy Hospital. “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,” Dr. Garra stated.
With the community grappling with healthcare accessibility, Dr. Garra argues against the need for two hospitals in such close proximity. “We just need to make Werribee Mercy bigger because we already have the infrastructure there,” he emphasized. “You don’t need two hospitals that close together.”
The proposed Point Cook Community Hospital has drawn skepticism regarding its designation. Dr. Garra critiques the naming, suggesting it misrepresents the facility’s role. “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,” he explained. “It’s basically a fancy community day facility.”
As the state government prepares for construction, Dr. Garra urges officials to rethink this project, advocating for a more effective use of 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,” he remarked.
In a related development, the state government is currently doubling the emergency department at Werribee Mercy Hospital. Once completed, this expansion will accommodate over 25,000 patients annually, raising questions about the necessity of the new Point Cook facility.
As this situation unfolds, the public and healthcare professionals alike are left to wonder about the implications of the Point Cook Community Hospital on local healthcare services. The state government has yet to respond to these pressing concerns regarding their community hospital plans.
Stay tuned for updates as this story develops. The future of healthcare in Point Cook hinges on the decisions made in the coming weeks.
