MERNDA has its new Community Hospital open for business, allowing more residents in the City of Whittlesea accessible healthcare.
The Community Hospital opened yesterday, taking in its first patients for public dental, compounding pharmacy, pathology services, paediatric services and allied health clinic services, with the promise of more stages to be added early in 2026, with dialysis and community mental health services set to open in January 2026, and urgent care and imaging services added in March 2026.
The Community Hospital was officially opened by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas, joined by Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage, Member for Mill Park Lily D’Ambrosio and Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell, as well as City of Whittlesea councillors Deb Gunn and Jarrod Lappin.
The design of the Mernda Community Hospital was to take pressure off the Northern Hospital in Epping while supporting a region which is now home to more than one million people, with the prospect of growing by more than 74 per cent by 2036.
The project was also delivered through the State Government’s $800 million community hospital program.
Ms Thomas said it was fantastic to be able to bring some welcome relief to the hospital system in the northern region.
“It has been a real pleasure to work with this fantastic health organisation to deliver the Mernda Community Hospital,” she said.
“This is a warm and welcoming environment. It’s a new model of care, about delivering health service that can meet the everyday healthcare needs of the people of this community without needing to go to a big, busy major hospital.
“I’m delighted that here, at Mernda, families will be able to access care for their children, paediatric assessments for ADHD and for autism. We know how important it is for parents to get that diagnosis and the treatment happening close to home.”
Ms Kathage said there will be some critical differences for families, particularly those in the Mernda community.
“When I think about the good this will have in people’s lives, the difference this will make for a worried mum that’s bringing her child here, the person that’s waiting on pathology results, the person who has put up with dental pain for years,” she said.
“Every day, we will come here, and there are people who have dedicated their lives to serving their community, to keeping the community healthy and well.
“The Mernda Community Hospital will mean families can access the care they need without having to head to the Northern or the Austin.”
Ms D’Ambrosio said there was plenty to look forward to for people who need healthcare.
“For local families, the new Mernda Community Hospital will make a massive difference – it will mean more world-class care right on our doorstep,” she said.
Recruitment has begun for the facility, which is located at 35 Flourmill Drive in Mernda, and will operate from 8am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.
