Sod turned on Torquay Community Hospital

WORK has started at Torquay’s new hospital, with the first sod officially turned last week.

To be operated by Barwon Health, the Torquay Community Hospital – an election commitment ahead of the 2018 state poll – in Torquay North will be a small public hospital providing a range of integrated community health and specialist services, including urgent care for minor injuries and illnesses, day surgery, paediatric services and mental health services.

The project will take pressure off nearby major hospitals, allowing them to focus on critical care and acute health issues, emergency care and more complex surgeries and procedures.

 

The new hospital will also reduce the burden on the existing Surfcoast Medical Centre, which was built in the 1970s to service a much smaller population.

Strong links to specialists, community health and social support services will improve follow-up treatment and support for those requiring complex care.

The site at 110 South Beach Road in Torquay was identified in June 2021 as the preferred location for the multi-million-dollar facility, and the state government took possession in February this year.

Construction is expected to be complete in 2024.

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman, Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney and Labor candidate for Polwarth Hutch Hussein visited the site, near the intersection of South Beach Road and the Surf Coast Highway, for the ceremonial turning.

 

“This community hospital will provide a range of outpatient care, nursing allied health and urgent care services for minor, non-emergency medical issues such as bumps, cuts and bruises,” Mr Cheeseman said

“These services will help take pressure off nearby hospitals such as the University Hospital Geelong- allowing them to focus on critical care and acute health issues, and emergency care.”

 

The state government established a community consultative committee three years ago to provide advice and be the local voice for the project, and committee member Celia Clarke said the Torquay Community Hospital would be “amazing” for Torquay when it was finished.

“A lot of the people who live down here, the residents, they don’t want to have to go all the way into Geelong to the emergency department and sit there for two days to be seen, so in terms of urgent care, it’ll be fantastic for minor matters.

“GPs are so busy with the rapid expansion of the population here, so it’ll ease the pressure enormously, people knowing they can come here.

“It’s a fantastic location here, too.”