Victorians left fearing government may break six-year promise to build community hospitals across the state

When Jacqueline Ritchie and her young family moved to Torquay a year ago, she was relieved to hear a Community Hospital was scheduled to open in 2024 GP clinics. They do a wonderful job, however, they can’t be open all night. But lots of things happen after hours. But she was disappointed when she realised the site was empty grass and mowed grass paddocks. It’s a similar story in Murder in Melbourne’s outer north, in the northeast, at this site in Diamond Creek and in Point Cook in the booming southwest. It was part of a 2018 election commitment. We will build and expand 10 community hospitals across our suburbs and across our state. The promise was for more health services closer to home in growth areas. But out of the 10 hospitals promised, none are open. Five are still empty sites. Construction has begun on two of them, and three are set to open this year. Emails seen by the ABC indicate the Torquay Hospital could be delayed for years and possibly scrapped altogether due to cost. Each of our community hospitals has a bespoke plan and we’re working with with each of those communities. Construction is well underway at this Community Hospital here on Phillip Island, but some experts are wondering whether the $675 million budget for the project could be better spent. It may make sense in the current budget and building climate to revisit the 2018 election promises, but that requires transparent consultation and conversations with the community. In point, Cook, local GP and former political candidate Joe Garra says the community needs more services, but not in a new hospital. We could just tack on the services to existing facilities. The Phillip Island hospital is due to open early next year.