THE BURDEN on some of the State’s busiest emergency departments has been significantly reduced with new data revealing Queensland’s Satellite Hospitals Minor Injury and Illness Clinics have reached their next major milestone.
The data shows Queensland’s Satellite Hospitals Minor Injury and Illness Clinics have seen 100,000 patients, and where a satellite hospital is close to an ED, there has been a reduction of up to 24 per cent in non-urgent presentations.
An additional 45,000 outpatient appointments have been delivered across the seven Satellite Hospitals.
Redlands Satellite Hospital opened in August last year and was the third in the state to open, seeing an average of 65 daily presentations as of July 21, 2024.
The Queensland Government has also opened Satellite Hospitals in Caboolture, Ripley, Tugun, Kallangur, Eight Mile Plains and Bribie Island since August 2023.
“145,000 Queenslanders have received free healthcare, closer to home, at one of our seven nation leading Satellite Hospitals,” said Queensland Premier Steven Miles said.
“Importantly, the 100,000 people have been diverted away from our busy EDs and are instead going to their local minor injury and illness clinic at their Satellite Hospital.
“This is a massive milestone and further proof that these clinics provide crucial care to Queenslanders and relieve pressure on our major SEQ Hospitals.”
The most common presentations during the most recent quarter included respiratory and viral infections, sprains, abdominal pain and other soft tissue injuries.
“I would like to thank the dedicated frontline healthcare staff working in the seven facilities to ensure patients receive world-class care,” said Queensland Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman.
“Free nurse-led clinics, Satellite Hospitals and virtual EDs, are just some of the plans that we’re delivering to help free up capacity in busy emergency departments, while providing cost of living relief for families.”
