Plans to build three community hospitals in Victoria, initially announced ahead of the 2018 state election, appear to have been put on hold by the current Labor government. The hospitals, which were part of a broader 10-hospital initiative launched by then-Premier Daniel Andrews, have seen no significant progress in recent years, prompting questions about their future.

The facilities affected include Eltham Community Hospital, Emerald Hill Community Hospital in South Melbourne, and Torquay Community Hospital. Eltham was notably removed from the state budget papers for 2024-25, with its planning described as "deferred." Meanwhile, Emerald Hill Hospital has vanished from official government websites, and development plans for the Torquay facility remain indefinite despite the state having previously acquired land for the project.

Health Minister Harriet Shing, recently appointed to her role, declined to confirm whether the hospitals had been canceled when questioned during parliamentary inquiries. Instead, she emphasized shifts in healthcare delivery models, noting that the government is focusing on "integrated models of healthcare delivery" to meet evolving community needs. Shing highlighted that changes in major hospital infrastructure and other care options have influenced how community hospital projects are being implemented.

The minister also pointed to the expansion of alternative care services, such as pharmacies offering a broader range of treatments, the development of community health hubs, and enhanced support through Medicare and general practitioner clinics. She indicated that while the initial community hospital projects may no longer be a priority, the underlying goal remains to ensure accessible care within local communities.

Shing further noted that four hospitals under the government’s 10-hospital plan have already opened, with additional facilities scheduled to begin operations later in the year. The government has not provided a timeline or clear direction for the future of the three community hospitals in Eltham, South Melbourne, and Torquay, leaving their status uncertain.

The apparent deprioritization of these hospitals contrasts with the Andrews government’s earlier commitment to expand hospital infrastructure across the state. Critics may view the delays as a retreat from promises made during the 2018 campaign, while the government frames the approach as a strategic response to changes in healthcare demand and service delivery.