The new Phillip Island Urgent Care Centre is now open, giving locals and holidaymakers access to 24-hour free healthcare, seven days a week – just in time for summer.
The Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos today officially opened the $3.36 million medical facility which is part of the Phillip Island Health Hub, located in Cowes. It provides a patient triage area, and four new urgent care treatment bays, including an enclosed bay and a resuscitation bay.
In the first two weeks of operation, over 600 people sought treatment at the centre, including over 200 on Melbourne Cup weekend.
The centre replaces the temporary minor injuries and illness clinic that operated since December 2018, and reduces the need for patients to travel to Wonthaggi Hospital.
At the Phillip Island Urgent Care Centre patients can be treated for fevers, sprains, cuts, rashes and infections through to more serious injuries that require urgent treatment. While the facility has the ability to provide resuscitative care, it is not an emergency department.
The urgent care centre has been completed on time and on budget, just 12 months after it was announced. Two new apprenticeships were created by the project.
Learn more about the Phillip Island Urgent Care Centre via our dedicated project page.
Steps towards a new community hospital
Phillip Island is a major growth area. The completion of the Urgent Care Centre complements the Victorian Government’s commitment to build a new flagship community hospital in Phillip Island, as part of a $675 million investment for ten community hospitals across Victoria.
The new Phillip Island Community Hospital is expected to be completed in 2024. It will feature pharmacy services, renal dialysis, diagnostic imaging and pathology services, public dental services and family violence support services.
