Wyndham faces a dual health challenge: a lack of available services and, in many locations, poor spatial access to existing ones. This is contributing to worsening health outcomes and growing pressure on already stretched facilities. We need to incentivise people to work in our health network.
Key findings of a recent Health Needs Assessment, conducted by Wyndham City demonstrates that:
- Mental health needs are acute across almost all priority groups:
- People with disability (29.4%), young people aged 8–24 (8.6%), women (29.7%), and First Nations residents (18.1%), yet service access remains limited.
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are less likely to seek help due to culturally inappropriate or poorly promoted services.
- Hospital infrastructure and capacity are insufficient:
- Wyndham currently needs 797 public hospital beds (2023 ERP) and will require over 1,200 beds by 2046 to meet projected demand.
- While the Mercy Hospital emergency department expansion is underway, current wait times of up to 90 minutes and high rates of preventable hospitalisations indicate deep systemic strain.
- The Point Cook Community Hospital (due 2026) will help, but its planned capacity remains unclear.
At this election, all candidates must commit to the long term health needs of our growing community.
REQUEST: WYNDHAM URGENTLY REQUIRES A COORDINATED, LONG-TERM STATE INVESTMENT IN LOCAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE DELIVERY, INCLUDING:
- The completion of the expansion of Mercy Hospital’s Emergency Department and funding to fix the Mercy Hospital for the long term by working to meet current demand and future growth
- A new mental health service provision in Truganina, Wyndham’s North where gaps are most severe