- Land has been located for four of seven planned satellite hospitals
- The hospitals are to be build across south-east Queensland
- The Satellite Hospital Program is designed to elevate pressure on nearby hospitals
Land has been sourced for three planned satellite hospitals in south-east Queensland.
Satellite hospitals are designed to provide healthcare more locally in key fast-growing communities, as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk explained.
“Satellite hospitals will take pressure off our health system by easing the demand on major hospitals and also support hundreds of jobs for Queenslanders.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
The land has been located in Pine Rivers, Caboolture, Redlands and Gold Coast, the sites for four of the seven hospitals which are to be established under the $265 million Satellite Hospital Program (SHP).
Other locations are Brisbane Southside, Bribie Island and Ripley.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath indicated that a key benefit of the satellite hospitals is to alleviate pressure on nearby emergency departments.
“Now is the right time to invest in additional infrastructure to make sure the residents in these growth corridors continue to get quality health care.
“A range of services are being considered for these satellite hospitals, including community health services, ambulatory and low acuity day therapy services such as renal dialysis, chemotherapy, complex wound management, urgent care for minor injury and illness, and outpatient activities.”
To determine which of the various services will be offered at each hospital, a business program is currently being prepared.
Member for Pine Rivers, Nikki Boyd, believes the satellite hospital in the Pine Rivers area will be very beneficial to her constituents.
“This will make such a big difference to people in Pine Rivers – it will mean less stress on our main hospital and easier access to services – it’s a win, win.”
Nikki Boyd, Member for Pine Rivers
Construction will take close to 12 months following the land acquisition and business case for the hospital sites.
The SHP is expected to support up to 773 local jobs as the program is rolled out.
