Ripley Satellite Hospital takes shape as construction nears completion

• The Ripley Satellite Hospital, nears practical completion as construction and fit out charges ahead.
• The Ripley Satellite Hospital will include a Minor Injury and Illness Clinic that will provide walk-in urgent care from 8:00am until late.
• It will take pressure off emergency departments and major hospitals in the region.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has joined Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, Member for Bundamba Lance McCallum and Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard to inspect the Ripley Satellite Hospital project as it nears practical completion.

Construction is on the final stretch, with completion of the internal roadworks, testing of building services and the installation of medical equipment underway.

The Premier announced the Ripley Satellite Hospital is expected to open in the second half of this year.

The facility will include a Minor Injury and Illness Clinic, which will be open seven days a week from 8am and will accept patients until 10pm.

The clinic will provide care for up to 490 walk-in patients each week for non-life-threatening injuries and emergencies, including strains and sprains, broken bones, minor head injuries, infections and rashes, minor eye issues, minor cuts and burns, tooth ache and earache, and fever.

The Ripley Satellite Hospital will also include oral health services, BreastScreen services, mental health specialists and medical imaging and diagnostic services (including ultrasound, X-ray and pathology).

In addition, the Ripley Satellite Hospital will include consult and treatment rooms for appointments with Queensland Health doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.

These rooms can accommodate up to 800 outpatient appointments each week, between 8am-4.30pm Monday to Friday.

These appointments will cover services including:

• Mental health
• Obstetrics and gynaecology
• Maternity and antenatal
• Paediatric
• Gerontology
• Child health and development
• Diabetes and endocrine

The Ripley Satellite Hospital will take pressure off emergency departments and major hospitals in the region and help meet the increasing demand for services we’re seeing in this growing community.

Quotes attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“The Ripley Satellite Hospital will significantly boost heath capacity in the region while taking pressure of our emergency departments – allowing our hospital staff to focus on more serious injuries and emergencies.

“I’m pleased to see construction of this vital piece of infrastructure so far advanced as we charge towards completion.

“This is a testament to the hard work of the men and women on site every day.

“Our government will continue to deliver for Queenslanders, ensuring our frontline health workers have the tools they need to deliver better healthcare in our growing communities.”

Quotes attributable to Health Minister Shannon Fentiman:

“The Ripley Satellite Hospital will take pressure off Ipswich Hospital and its busy emergency department.

“Planning is also well underway for the 90-bed Ripley Sub-Acute Facility, located near the Ripely Satellite Hospital, with works scheduled to commence later this year.

“The LNP revealed their secret $10 billion infrastructure cuts list, and Satellite Hospitals are right at the top.

“When the LNP were last in office, they sacked 4,400 health staff and didn’t plan a single new health infrastructure project – their only plan is to cut, sack and sell.”

Quotes attributable to Lance McCallum MP, Member for Bundamba:

“Our new Satellite Hospital on Barrams Road in South Ripley will make such a difference for our community,” Mr McCallum said.

“The purpose-built Satellite Hospital will allow locals to access healthcare right in the heart of our community rather than having to travel to major hospitals like the Ipswich Hospital.”

Quotes attributable to Jennifer Howard MP, Member for Ipswich:

“The Palaszczuk Government has a strong record of investing in new and expanded health services for the Ipswich region,” Ms Howard said.

“In addition to the new Satellite Hospital, we’re also investing $710 million for our Stage 2 expansion of the Ipswich Hospital that will deliver 200 additional beds, on top of our $146.3 million Stage 1 expansion.”

Quotes attributable to Charis Mullen MP, Member for Jordan:

“The new jobs at the Ripley Satellite Hospital will build on the significant number of frontline health workers we’ve already hired since coming to government,” Ms Mullen said.

“These investments are exactly what our region needs to keep up with the increasing demand for health services now and into the future.”

Quotes attributable to Jim Madden, Member for Ipswich West:

“The Palaszczuk Government has increased the budget for the West Moreton Health Service to a record $817 million – an increase of 83 per cent compared to the LNP’s last budget,” Mr Madden said.

“Compare that to the LNP, who sacked 124 health staff across the West Moreton region when they were last in office, including 92 nurses.”

ENDS

Media contact: Asaesja Young (Premier’s office) – 0423 339 899