Sunbury Community Hospital

The Community hospitals program aims to achieve the following benefits:

Better services closer to home

The Victorian Government is investing more than $800 million to develop community hospitals in major growth areas across Victoria. These facilities will provide more locally available public healthcare options and better access to important everyday health services close to home.

Services will be tailored to each community and may include urgent care services, day surgery for minor procedures, public dental and specialist appointments.

Stronger links to specialist care

Community hospitals will also help keep local communities healthy by providing links to other local healthcare providers including GPs, allied health services, specialists, social services and major hospitals if more complex care is required.

Reduce pressure on major hospitals

Community hospitals will also reduce pressure on major public hospitals and emergency departments. This will assist major hospitals to focus on critical care, complex health issues and surgeries, emergencies and trauma while our community hospitals support locals to manage their everyday health needs and access community services.

Meeting increased demand

As Victoria’s population grows and healthcare needs change, community hospitals will help meet increasing demand for public health services in major Victorian growth areas.

Once complete, the new community hospitals will have the capacity to treat at least 114,000 more urgent care patients each year. They’ll support 55,000 dialysis treatments and enable more than 100,000 additional allied health sessions each year.

The program will support:

• new developments in the City of Whittlesea and Point Cook
• relocation and expansion of existing health services on a new site at Cranbourne and Pakenham
• upgrades or expansion of existing health services at Craigieburn, Phillip Island, and Sunbury.

Managed by Western Health, the Sunbury Community Hospital will be an expansion of the current Sunbury Day Hospital on Macedon Street which has been treating patients since February 2011.

When expansion and upgrade works are complete, the hospital’s capacity will be expanded to provide a greater range of public urgent care services to be delivered on-site after hours, including:

• diagnostic services including additional x-ray, ultrasound rooms and CT scans
• pharmacy and pathology services
• a separate reception and waiting area.

These additional services will sit alongside the existing day surgery, chemotherapy and dialysis services available on site.

Strong links to specialists, community health providers and social support services will ensure more seamless follow-up treatment and support for those who require complex care.

We value community and stakeholder input and are committed to keeping the public informed on the Community hospitals program.

We work closely with key stakeholders across the health sector and local government. We aim to deliver functional and efficient health facilities that are fit-for-purpose, inclusive and that meet community needs.

Our engagement program includes:

• user groups
• working groups
• surveys
• workshops
• tailored engagement with identified key groups, including people with lived experience, Traditional Owners groups and culturally diverse communities.

We’ve established community consultative committees (CCC) to ensure the views and aspirations of the community are considered in the planning and design for each community hospital. Committees are made up of a diverse cross-section of community members, local service providers and organisations who provide a local perspective and considered advice on a range of issues relating to the project.

Summaries of the meetings held can be found on the Community Hospitals community consultative committee meeting summaries page.

The Sunbury Community Hospital community consultative committee (CCC) provided a forum for local community members to participate in the planning and development of the project through open dialogue and consultation.

The consultative committee included:

• foundation members from key organisations such as local councils
• health service providers and Aboriginal representation
• community members selected through an independent expression of interest process.

The Sunbury CCC was chaired by Josh Bull MP, Member for Sunbury.

Meeting summaries can be found on the Community Hospitals community consultative committee meeting summaries page.

What is a community hospital?

Community hospitals are small public hospitals. With extended hours to provide day and after-hours services, community hospitals will provide a range of everyday health services, which may include:

• urgent care service for common minor injuries and illnesses
• day medical services such as chemotherapy and renal dialysis
• day surgery for procedures such as cataract removal, major dental work, gynaecological procedures, colonoscopies and other minor surgical procedures that do not require an overnight stay
• treatment and support for chronic health issues including mental health, alcohol and other drugs, pain management, diabetes and respiratory problems
• family services including child and maternal health, family safety and women’s health
• pathology, pharmacy and diagnostic imaging such as blood tests and x‑rays
• public dental services.

Community hospitals will be located in major growth areas across Victoria and will provide people with better access to many important everyday health services closer to home.

Where will the Sunbury Community Hospital be located?

The Sunbury Community Hospital will be an expansion of the current Sunbury Day Hospital at 7 Macedon Street, Sunbury.

What services will the Sunbury Community Hospital provide?

The hospital's capacity will be expanded to provide a greater range of public urgent care services to be delivered on-site after hours, including:

• additional dialysis chairs
• additional treatment spaces to support the ten consulting rooms currently on site
• diagnostic services including additional x-ray, ultrasound rooms and CT scans
• pharmacy and pathology services
• a separate reception and waiting area.

These additional services will sit alongside the existing day surgery, chemotherapy and dialysis services available on site.

Which health service provider will manage the Sunbury Community Hospital?

Western Health will manage the Sunbury Community Hospital. Western Health is a major provider of maternity, sub-acute and specialist services in the western region of Melbourne.

More information on Western Health can be found on their website.

Will the hospital be open 24/7 and will there be overnight beds?

The Sunbury Community Hospital will operate extended business hours. It will not operate 24 hours 7 days a week and it will not accommodate overnight stays.

It will provide urgent care services for people experiencing non-emergency medical issues such as the bumps, cuts and bruises associated with everyday life.

Will there be an emergency department?

No. People will be able to attend the facility for minor bumps and bruises and non-emergency care. People experiencing a medical emergency should visit their nearest emergency department.

How was the community consulted on this project?

We value community and stakeholder input and are committed to keeping the public informed about the Sunbury Community Hospital.

In the early stages of the project, a community consultative committee was established. This was to ensure the views and aspirations of the local community were considered in the planning and design for the Sunbury Community Hospital.

The committee included:

• members from the Council
• health service providers
• community members selected by an independent expression of interest process
• a limited number of invited community members.

The committee provided local perspectives and advice on a range of issues relating to the project.

The community hospitals program is also informed by user groups and tailored engagement with identified key groups, including people with lived experience.

Traffic, parking and access

Are there plans to manage increased traffic and impacts to parking in the area?

Yes. The Victorian Health Building Authority undertook a detailed traffic and parking analysis, which formed the basis for our traffic and parking management plan. This plan helped determine the number of parking spaces required and prepare for any potential traffic management measures.

Throughout the construction period, the Victorian Health Building Authority will work with local stakeholders to address any potential traffic and congestion issues on surrounding streets.

Adequate onsite parking will be provided to support the parking demand generated by the community hospital, without reliance on surrounding streets.

Design

What will the Sunbury Community Hospital look like?

The Sunbury Community Hospital has been designed with the local character in mind to achieve a respectful, integrated design that is fit-for-purpose.

The facility’s exteriors, patient and staff areas, have been carefully considered to create safe and serene environments for patients, family members and staff.

The design process was guided by design principles developed in partnership with Western Health clinicians, staff and consumers. The Sunbury Community Hospital community consultative committee also has input into the design.

How was the community’s feedback considered in the design?

In the early stages of the project, a community consultative committee was established. This helped ensure the views and aspirations of the local community were considered in the planning and design for the Sunbury Community Hospital.

The need for clear signage and wayfinding, use of natural materials and light to create a welcoming environment, and protection of patient privacy were some of the community’s priorities incorporated in the designs.

How many storeys will the building be?

The Sunbury Community Hospital will be two-storeys high. This will help ensure health services can be delivered in a functional and efficient layout. The project architects will make sure the building is not imposing and matches the character of the surrounding area.

Construction

When will construction begin?

Construction on the Sunbury Community Hospital started in late 2022.

How will construction impacts be managed to minimise disruption and impacts to nearby residents?

The appointed contractors will work closely with the Victorian Health Building Authority to minimise construction impacts on the community. This includes:

• noise and vibration monitoring
• noise control measures in accordance with Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and council imposed noise guidelines
• dust suppression measures
• clear construction signage.

This project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with:

• Western Health (managing health service)
• HDR in partnership with Design Inc (architects)
• SJ Higgins (early works)
• INTREC Management (main works).