The community hospitals program will deliver the following benefits:

• enable care to be provided locally, ensuring every family can get the care they need
• assist in preventing poor health and wellbeing outcomes in communities with vulnerable or at-risk members
• reduce unnecessary attendance and wait times at larger hospitals.

By co-ordinating investment with local organisations, the community hospitals program provides an opportunity to create thriving health precincts that will support the health and wellbeing of the local community, and bring greater vitality to growing areas.

What is a community hospital?

Community hospitals are a new type of facility being developed by the Victorian government to provide accessible health services in growing communities. They aim to provide a broad range of ambulatory hospital, community health and social care services within the one place, making it easier for families, patients, carers and clients to receive the services they need closer to their homes.

Community hospitals don’t provide emergency department care such as ongoing management of complex conditions including severe stomach pain, chest pain, trouble breathing or moderate trauma. These patients will continue to access their nearest hospital’s emergency department. Patients with these conditions who present at a community hospital will be stabilised and transferred to the most appropriate emergency department.

Planned services at Phillip Island

The Phillip Island Community Hospital will be an expansion of the services provided by the Phillip Island Health hub run by the Bass Coast Community Health Service operating on Church St in the heart of Cowes. This will accommodate additional public health and urgent care services:

• general medical, specialist and allied health appointments
• pharmacy services
• women’s health, including sexual health and family planning
• social support services, such as housing assistance and financial aid
• paediatric care, including allied health
• diagnostic services, including pathology and imaging
• public dental services
• chronic disease management
• community mental health assessment
• alcohol and drug services
• complex renal dialysis
• day chemotherapy
• day surgery
• after-hours urgent care
• rehabilitation support.

A community consultative committee has been established for the Phillip Island Community Hospital to provide a forum for members of the local community to participate in its planning and development through open dialogue and consultation.

The consultative committee includes:

• foundation members from key organisations such as local councils, health service providers and Aboriginal representation
• community members selected by an independent expression of interest process and a limited number of invited community members.

The committee selection approach considered a mix of age, gender and other demographic characteristics as well as a cross-section of interests and community perspectives to ensure diverse representation.

The committee will be chaired by: Jordan Crugnale MP, Member for Bass.

Committee members include:

• Jan Child – Bass Coast Health
• Kirsten Weinzierl – Bass Coast Health
• Lisa Barham-Lomax – Bass Coast Shire Council
• Trevor Ryan – community member
• Samiro Douglas – community member
• Mal McCann – community member
• Joyce Ball – community member
• Andrew Clarke – community member
• Sue Becker – community member
• Gillian Scrase – community member
• Fybian Chakaodza – community member
• Andrew Phillips – community member
• Howard McCormick – community member
• Amanda Drennan – community member.
  
  

View Terms of Reference | Download Word version (87 KB)
View Code of Conduct | Download Word version (77 KB) 

Please direct project enquiries and feedback to communityhospitals@dhhs.vic.gov.au. To get in touch with the Phillip Island community consultative committee, please contact the committee Chair at Jordan.Crugnale@parliament.vic.gov.au.