The applicant, Healthscope, and objectors met at Knox Council for a planning consultation meeting.

Council's city development director, Angelo Kourambas, said the meeting was an opportunity to clarify the application and the objectors' concerns.

"The results of the consultation meeting will be included in an officer's official report to council when the decision is scheduled to be made, which is likely to be in August.

"Council remains independent in this matter and will assess the application on its merits.''

The main objection relates to the height of the proposed building. Healthscope have classified ground level in line with Boronia Road, however residents say this does not take into consideration the height of the building for residents further down the hill.

Aat and Millie Verhulst have lived next to the hospital site since 1974.

"Now we've had to put trellis at the top of our fence, just to get a little privacy,'' Mr Verhulst said.

He said he barely got any sunlight in his garden because of a hospital building close to his fenceline. "The new building could block what little sun we have left.

Neil Henderson of Healthscope, operators of Knox Private Hospital, said the hospital was an important community asset. "It is at capacity - cannot accommodate any more demand,'' he said.

"Objections to the town planning application to expand the hospital threatens the timely access for Knox residents to emergency treatment, given that the hospital is running at full capacity.''