Overview

The Victorian Government has committed $675 million to build ten community hospitals close to major growth areas. These community hospitals will improve the way public healthcare is delivered in suburban and regional Victoria, providing more access to in-demand services, closer to home.

Community hospitals are small public hospitals. This new type of facility is being developed to provide a broad range of walk-in hospital, community health and social care services in the one place, making it easier for families, patients, carers and clients to receive the services they need.

The community hospitals will be located in the following areas:

  • Craigieburn
  • Cranbourne
  • Pakenham
  • Phillip Island
  • Sunbury
  • Torquay
  • City of Whittlesea
  • Eltham area
  • Point Cook
  • Fishermans Bend

    • In most situations, community hospitals will offer people the option to be treated in, or closer to their local area. However, patients with severe problems like chest or stomach pain, trouble breathing, or traumatic injuries should attend their nearest hospital’s emergency department. As such, community hospitals will not have overnight beds but will provide same day services to patients including day surgery.

    This is your opportunity to help shape your local community hospital so that people and families in your area can get the care they need, when and where they need it.

    How can you participate?

    You can provide your input by completing the survey below.

    The first section asks for information on how you use and access health services, while the second section asks for information about you. If you feel a question is not relevant to you, leave the question blank and continue to the next question.

    Responses to this survey are anonymous and will be de-identified.

    The closing date of the survey has been extended to Monday 28 October 2019.

    Survey

    Before we begin, please tell us how you first heard about this survey.

    Select first option

    Select second option

    Current use of health services

    The following questions ask about how you and your family use local and other health care services. For these questions, “your family” includes any related person who usually lives with you.

    Q1. On average, how often do you/your family visit the following health services?
    Weekly
    Once or twice a month
    Every few months
    Once or twice a year
    Less than once a year
    Never
    A doctor, GP or medical clinic in your local area
    A doctor, GP or medical clinic outside your local area
    A community health centre
    A hospital
    A private therapist (e.g. physiotherapist, counsellor)
    Q2. Have you/your family ever delayed or put off getting medical advice or treatment for any of the following reasons?
    Yes, often
    Yes, sometimes
    No
    I have to travel too far to get the service I need
    The service I need is available locally but it costs too much
    The service I need is available locally but it takes too long to get an appointment
    I have to go to different places or providers to get all the services I need
    I don’t know where to get the service I need
    I don’t have the time
    Q3. For each of the following statements, please indicate your level of agreement/disagreement.
    Strongly agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly disagree
    My local doctor/GP provides most of the healthcare services I need
    The only way I can get to healthcare services is by public transport
    I prefer going to a local doctor/GP for my healthcare needs because I get a better/more personal service
    I prefer going to a hospital for my healthcare needs because all/most of the services I need are under one roof
    It’s easy for me to drive to my local medical services

    Access to services you need

    Q4a. Thinking about your/your family’s current health needs, how important is it for you to be able to get the following services in your local area?
    Very important
    Important
    Not very important
    Not important at all
    Services to help manage an ongoing medical condition such as diabetes, asthma or chronic pain
    General medical services for urgent conditions that occur outside of normal business hours
    Diagnostic testing services such as blood tests, x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans
    Dental care
    Pharmacy
    Ongoing specialist medical treatment for life threatening conditions such as cancer or kidney disease
    Care and support to help people at the end of their life and their families
    Q4b. How important is it for you/your family to be able to get reproductive health, pregnancy and children services in your local area?
    Very important
    Important
    Not very important
    Not important at all
    Family planning, sexual and reproductive health services
    Healthcare, support and advice during pregnancy
    Healthcare, support and advice for new mothers and their babies (after child birth)
    Specialist children’s health services
    Q4c. How important is it for you/your family to be able to get rehabilitation and allied health services in your local area?
    Very important
    Important
    Not very important
    Not important at all
    Rehabilitation services to improve recovery and ability to function after an illness or injury
    Nutrition or coaching services to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight and/or lifestyle
    Other allied health services to maintain good health and wellbeing (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech pathology, dietetics, psychology and counselling)
    Q4d. How important is it for you/your family to be able to get the following in your local area?
    Very important
    Important
    Not very important
    Not important at all
    Treatment, recovery and counselling services for alcohol or drug problems
    Treatment, recovery and counselling services for mental health problems
    Services that support people and families in times of crisis or extreme hardship (such as family violence, financial stress, long-term unemployment or unstable housing)
    Q5a. Thinking about your/your family’s current health needs, how easy is it for you to access the following services in your local area?
    Very easy
    Easy
    Neither easy nor difficult
    Difficult
    Very difficult
    Not applicable
    Services to help manage an ongoing medical condition such as diabetes, asthma or chronic pain
    General medical services for urgent conditions that occur outside of normal business hours
    Diagnostic testing services such as blood tests, x-rays, CT scans, MRI scan
    Dental care
    Ongoing specialist medical treatment for life threatening conditions such as cancer or kidney disease
    Care and support to help people at the end of their life and their families
    Q5b. How easy is it for you/your family to access reproductive health, pregnancy and children services in your local area?
    Very easy
    Easy
    Neither easy nor difficult
    Difficult
    Very difficult
    Not applicable
    Family planning, sexual and reproductive health service
    Healthcare, support and advice during pregnancy
    Healthcare, support and advice for new mothers and their babies (after child birth)
    Specialist children’s health services
    Q5c. How easy it for you/your family to access rehabilitation and allied health services in your local area?
    Very easy
    Easy
    Neither easy nor difficult
    Difficult
    Very difficult
    Not applicable
    Rehabilitation services to improve recovery and ability to function after an illness or injury
    Nutrition or coaching services to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight and/or lifestyle
    Other allied health services to maintain good health and wellbeing (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech pathology, dietetics, psychology and counselling)
    Q5d. How easy is it for you/your family to access the following in your local area?
    Very easy
    Easy
    Neither easy nor difficult
    Difficult
    Very difficult
    Not applicable
    Treatment, recovery and counselling services for alcohol or drug problems
    Treatment, recovery and counselling services for mental health problems
    Services that support people and families in times of crisis or extreme hardship (such as family violence, financial stress, long-term unemployment or unstable housing)
    Q6. Considering your responses to question 5, what are the main reasons you find it difficult to access some services in your local area?

    Tick all that apply

    You have 500 characters left.

    Community hospital amenities

    Q8. What are the most important things that you want from your community hospital?

    Select all that apply.

    You have 500 characters left.

    About you

    The following questions ask about you and your household. We will only use this information to check that a good cross-section of the community has responded. You will not be personally identified.

    Q10. In general, how would you assess your current health?
    Q11. What is your age?
    Q12. What is your gender?
    You have 255 characters left.
    Q14. Which of the following best describes your usual living arrangements?
    Q15. How old is the youngest child who lives in your household?
    Q16. In the last 4 weeks, have you spent time providing unpaid care, help or assistance to someone with a long-term health condition, disability or problem related to old age?
    Q17. If you answered 'yes' to question 16, are you the primary carer for this person?
    Q18. Do you identify as a person with a disability?
    Q19. Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?
    Q20. Do you/your family require translation services when receiving health information?
    You have 255 characters left.
    Q21. Which of the following best describes your current employment status?
    Q22. What are your current work arrangements?

    Privacy collection notice

    Participation in this survey is voluntary. The Department of Health and Human Services (the department) is committed to protecting your privacy. The department collects and handles personal/health information in this Community hospitals survey to inform the design of the community hospitals service model.

    In order to design the community hospitals service model, we may share your de-identified responses with external parties such as governing health service providers, community health services, local council, other key stakeholders and external consultants.

    For more information on the department’s privacy collection, please refer to the department’s privacy policy or visit our website on https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/publications/privacy-p...

    As this is an anonymous survey you will not be able to view your survey responses once they have been submitted. If you would like to be informed of progress during and after the consultation you may provide a contact email address. Your contact email address will not be recorded on your survey response.

    The department can be contacted on communityhospitals@dhhs.vic.gov.au or you may contact the department’s Information Sharing and Privacy team by emailing privacy@dhhs.vic.gov.au.