Third developer announces plans for private hospital in Epping

AN urban planner says a plan for three private hospitals in Epping alongside the public Northern Hospital is “excessive” and could lead to an oversupply of beds in the area.

An artist's impression of Healthe Care Australia’s planned Epping Private Hospital on Cooper St. Picture: Supplied

A NEW player in the race to build Epping’s next private hospital has emerged after Healthe Care Australia (HCA) announced plans for a 390-bed medical facility on Cooper St.

HCA is the third developer in less than four months to declare its intent to build a private hospital close to the Northern Hospital after Prime Medical Property Group (PMPG) and Riverlee announced similar plans in May.

New 300-bed private hospital to be built directly opposite Northern Hospital in Epping

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However, it’s HCA who appear to be in the box seat with the company certain stage one — four operating theatres and 30 inpatient beds — will be operational by early 2018.

HCA, Australia’s third largest corporate private hospital operator, already has Whittlesea Council approval to fit out the existing Epping Medical and Specialist Centre on 230 Cooper St with construction to begin within a month.

Construction of stage two will commence shortly after.

A company statement claimed the new medical facility would provide extensive private practice opportunities for doctors and specialists in the area, and create 500 nursing and administrative jobs over the life of the project.

HCA chief executive Steve Atkins said they were fast-tracking the project due to the forecasted northern suburbs population boom.

Riverlee and PMPG both confirmed last week they would push on with their own plans.

Riverlee included a 300-bed private hospital in its plans to build a $1 billion, medical, retail and residential mini suburb on the old Cooper St quarry site.

PMPG spokeswoman Leanne Boase said it would also press ahead with a 300-bed hospital.

“We are well ahead of the others, we have better plans, fewer barriers and we are progressing much more quickly than the others,” Ms Boase said.

University of Melbourne Urban Planning senior lecturer Dr Crystal Legacy believed three private hospitals was excessive and questioned what the underlying motivation was.

“Three private hospitals plus one public hospital may lead to an oversupply of hospital beds in this area. So are there additional development opportunities that are coming alongside these proposals?” she asked.