Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (12:52:05): (73) My constituency question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister provide an update on plans for a new community hospital in Craigieburn? Prior to the last election the Andrews Labor government announced that a community hospital would be built in Craigieburn as part of a massive $675 million investment. This announcement was met with strong support from Yuroke residents. As one of the largest growing communities in Australia, with an increasing number of young families moving in, investing in additional health care for Yuroke residents is vital. I look forward to sharing the minister’s response with the Craigieburn community.

Response: 

The Andrews Government recognises the recent and projected growth in population in the northern suburbs of Melbourne and has committed to providing access to health care closer to home.

The Craigieburn Community Hospital will provide a range of services including allied health, after-hours health care, women’s health services, paediatric services, renal dialysis, chemotherapy, chronic disease management, public dental care plus alcohol and drug services.

It is critical that the Community Hospitals are shaped by and are sensitive to the needs of the communities they serve. A Community Consultative Committee is being established for the Craigieburn community hospital and I am delighted that the Member for Yuroke has agreed to chair that committee. It will enable carers, patients, families and volunteers to work together with Northern Health and other health service providers to design the right services for the community.

The Craigieburn Community Consultative Committee will include up to 15 members including Council and health service providers. We want the community to be involved and with this in mind have called on locals to register their interest in being selected to sit on the committee via an expression of interest process.

Jenny Mikakos MP
Minister for Health
Minister for Ambulance Services