Long-awaited community hospital one step closer

A BUILDER is expected to be appointed for the Phillip Island Community Hospital mid-year with construction to commence shortly after.

Final designs for the community hospital are also scheduled to be released later this year, and it is still anticipated the project will be completed in 2024.

The site at 50-56 Church Street, Cowes will expand the current Phillip Island Health Hub and be operated by Bass Coast Health.
Services at the new hospital will include:

• general medical, specialist and allied health appointments

• women’s health

• paediatric care

• diagnostic pathology and imaging services

• mental health services

• public dental

• dialysis

• day chemotherapy

• after-hours urgent care services

• rehabilitation support.

Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale said the small public hospital will provide a wide range of health and support services for those who are not critically unwell.

“We have been progressing the work all the way through this very challenging pandemic and are on track to deliver this amazing facility and service for our community in the timelines originally outlined,” Ms Crugnale said.

“The design team has been appointed and will work closely with our Phillip Island Community Consultative Committee (CCC) and Bass Coast Health, clinicians, staff and consumers.

“Our Consultative Committee have inputted into services, design and priority areas already and this has all been taken on board.

“Our first meeting for 2022 kicks off this month and we can’t wait to progress to and begin to inform the final designs which are due to be released later this year.

“The builder for the community hospital is expected to be appointed in mid-2022 with construction commencing shortly after and we are on track for this amazing facility to be completed in 2024.”

Phillip Island Medical Health Action Group (PIMHAG) has long campaigned for more health services on the Island, and is looking forward to construction beginning.

However, president Peter Paul said they were hoping to receive more clarity on when exactly the hospital is expected to be finished in 2024.

“It’s a long time between January and December and we just want to know approximately where in 2024 will it be complete,” Mr Paul said.

While the state government had invested a total of $675 million to build 10 community hospitals state-wide, Mr Paul said they were still yet to see the final cost for Phillip Island.

“We’re interested in the cost, as we have no estimate on figures, but once the design is done we’ll get a better idea,” he said.

“The community should have those figures, it’s just about transparency and accountability.

“But we welcome the hospital and we’ve waited a long time.

“We will be seeking discussions with Jordan Crugnale and anybody else who can contribute to make it a better hospital.”

As part of the project, the Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre (PICAL) will be relocated by the Bass Coast Council to a purpose-built facility on Warley Avenue, Cowes.

PICAL centre manager Greg Thompson said so far everything is progressing to plan for their new facility.

“We have agreed on a floorplan and we are at the stage of discussing fit out with the architect and builder,” Mr Thompson said.

“Given that Warley Avenue is a modular design, the construction of each room will largely occur offsite, and then each module will be shipped to the site and installed. 

“So the public may not see much activity at the Warley Avenue site for some time (apart from the foundations and other earthworks in preparation for receiving the constructed room modules), but progress is being made.”

In regard to PICAL’s new site for their re-established community garden at Bluegum Reserve, Mr Thompson said they were still negotiating the details of the area, layout and installations with council, as well as leasing arrangements of the former CFA building at Settlement Road.