THE state government has announced an August opening for the Redlands Satellite Hospital on Meissner Street after construction on the $43.8 million facility wrapped up last month.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the satellite hospital would be a game changer for the region and take pressure off the emergency department at Redland Hospital.
Ms Palaszczuk toured the facility with newly minted Health Minister Shannon Fentiman and local MPs on Monday as part of a health blitz in Redlands.
The announcement of an August opening for the hospital came just weeks after the LNP accused the government of failing to open the satellite facilities on time.
Opposition leader David Crisafulli said Ms Palaszczuk had promised a two-year timeframe to get the facilities up and running but the deadline had passed and all seven remained closed.
“It was the premier who promised that these would be done on time and on budget after we had seen slippages in both of those areas,” he said.
“Despite that, they remain closed.”
Five facilities – including Redland Bay – are due to open later this year, while Bribie Island and Eight Mile Plains are slated to open in the first half of 2024.
Redlands will boast a minor injury and illness clinic that will operate from 8am to 10pm daily and will have the capacity to provide walk-in care for up to 490 patients a week.
Ms Fentiman said the more than 50 people currently receiving chemotherapy and renal dialysis services in the southern Moreton Bay region would be able to use the satellite facility instead of travelling to a frontline hospital.
“This remarkable satellite hospital will be ready to accept families across the Redlands in a matter of months,” she said.
“We know that getting health care closer to home is what Queenslanders want to see and that’s why we are investing as part of our $9.78 billion health infrastructure plans.”
Redlands MP Kim Richards said the new satellite hospital was particularly exciting for the bay islands.
“Traditionally patients would need to go into the PA Hospital to get chemotherapy, but now they will be able to come here and get chemotherapy and renal dialysis,” she said.
Responding to the LNP’s delay claims, a Queensland Health spokesman said factors outside the department’s control like weather and labour availability were impacting construction projects.
