23/11/25
The new Mernda Community Hospital is now open. Run by Northern Health, it delivers essential health services for people in Melbourne's outer north.
Community hospitals are small public hospitals. They:
- provide a range of health services
- let more people manage their health needs closer to home
- help take the pressure off major hospitals, helping patients across Victoria.
We're opening community hospitals in some of our biggest growing suburbs. They've been designed so services can increase as the population grows.
Mernda Community Hospital joins Craigieburn Community Hospital, which opened in October this year, in supporting Melbourne's rapidly growing northern region. It's home to more than one million people and is expected to grow by over 74% by 2036.
Services at the small public hospital are being introduced gradually to ensure a safe and smooth opening. Services opening in November include:
- pharmacy
- public dental
- pathology collection
- allied health clinics
- paediatric clinics to support development, behavioural, respiratory and allergy needs
In the new year, more services will become available such as:
- renal care
- community mental health services
- urgent care
- imaging services
Urgent care services at the hospital provide treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses when you can't wait to see your doctor. You don't need an appointment or a referral to use Victoria's urgent care services. You can get help faster, and there's no waiting in the emergency department.
For the other services, if you live nearby you will access them through a referral from your doctor or healthcare provider.
- 24 November 2025
- Duration: 00:23
More information
Find out more about the community hospitals program on the Victorian Health Building Authority website.
Reviewed 23 November 2025
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