Thursday, 19 March 2026

 Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (09:50): I am very pleased to advise the house that the new Mernda urgent care centre at the Mernda Community Hospital is now up and running. Open from 12 pm to 8 pm Monday to Friday at 35 Flourmill Drive in Mernda, the new urgent care centre can be used for patients who need assistance with sprains, minor burns, minor fractures, infections, paediatric urgent care and other low-acuity urgent needs. It offers fast treatment for non-life-threatening illness or injury, with no appointment or referral needed – just walk right in. Last week I had the opportunity to visit the urgent care centre and saw firsthand how many people were using it. I spoke with nurses about the kinds of ailments that locals have already presented with, including kids with fractured arms and sprains.

In addition to the new facilities at the Mernda Community Hospital, there are also major upgrades underway at the Northern Hospital in Epping. The Northern Hospital expansion is well and truly underway, with the new upgrades to the emergency department adding an additional 200 treatment spaces capable of supporting an additional 30,000 emergency patients annually. The new buildings will also include a paediatric emergency centre, an inpatient unit and other treatment hubs dedicated to catering to our community. It was great to visit the site to see the works going on. These are just some of the fantastic ways that we are making sure that health care is close to where people live, affordable and accessible.