Satellite Hospitals saving Queensland families over $1 million

• Fifth Queensland Satellite Hospital set to open in Kallangur this month.
• Builds on facilities in Tugun, Caboolture, Ripley and Redlands that now offer free healthcare closer to home.
• Satellite Hospitals offer free healthcare to those who may have otherwise ended up at the GP or emergency department, saving families over $1 million in out-of-pocket expenses.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has today joined Deputy Premier and Member for Murrumba Steven Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman to officially opened the Kallangur Satellite Hospital, which will accept patients from 11 December.

The new Kallangur facility is one of seven facilities for South East Queensland as part of our $377 million Satellite Hospital Program, with four Satellite Hospitals already open at Tugun, Caboolture, Ripley and Redlands.

It is the first Satellite Hospital to host kidney dialysis and a rehabilitation gym.

More than 28,000 Queenslanders have accessed the free healthcare services on offer through the Satellite Hospitals program. 

It is estimated that the facilities have saved Queenslanders more than $1 million, with the average out-of-pocket cost for visiting a GP in Queensland sitting at about $40.

The Kallangur facility is home to a Minor Illness and Injury Clinic that will provide free urgent care for people who don’t need to go to an emergency department, and who may not be able to attend a general practitioner.

At Kallangur, the Minor Illness and Injury clinic will be able to treat simple fractures, sprains and strains, head injuries without loss of consciousness, and a range of other urgent conditions. It will be open from 8am to 10pm daily and includes on site medical imaging.

It will also host an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health hub. Additional outpatient services will include oral health.

The twelve-chair kidney dialysis unit has the capacity to treat approximately 48 patients each week, providing a much needed ‘closer to home’ service.

Two further Satellite Hospitals at Bribie Island and Eight Mile Plains are due to open their doors next year.

Quotes attributable to Premier and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“Queensland is leading the way with the Satellite Hospitals Program, providing free healthcare closer to home.

“The Kallangur Satellite Hospital is another milestone in our investment in the health of Queenslanders.

“Already, more than 28,000 Queenslanders have benefited from the free healthcare services on offer in their communities – putting cash back in the pockets of those who need it.

“Our government is committed to investing in healthcare services and infrastructure, including our record health capital program.

“Our high growth communities need healthcare services that keep pace with their needs and through the Satellite Hospitals Program we are demonstrating again that we are listening and delivering the services that matter to Queenslanders.”

Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier and Member for Murrumba Steven Miles:

“Moreton Bay is one of the South East’s fastest growing communities, and they need free healthcare services that keep pace with their needs.

“This new facility will do a fantastic job of taking pressure off our health system, whilst giving families another choice for urgent care.

 “Together with the Satellite Hospitals at Bribie, and Caboolture, and expansions at Redcliffe, The Prince Charles, and Caboolture Hospitals, we are delivering on services that matter to locals.

“It’s no secret the LNP doesn’t support Satellite Hospitals and they are at risk of being shut down or sold off under an LNP Government.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman:

“It’s exciting to not only be opening the fifth of seven Satellite Hospitals in our $377 million Satellite Hospital Program, but to acknowledge that this is the fifth Satellite Hospital we’ve opened in the past five months.

“We know that our Satellite Hospitals in Caboolture, Ripley, Redlands, and Tugun are already doing a wonderful job of taking pressure off our emergency departments. I’m thrilled The Prince Charles Hospital will soon experience the same.

“Queenslanders deserve the best healthcare, no matter where the live, and the new Kallangur Satellite Hospital will ensure they receive the right care, at the right time, and closer to home.

“The in-house renal dialysis and oral health services, as well as the new Minor Injury and Illness Clinic are a game changer for the community – reducing travel time and providing more options for families to access our world-class healthcare.

“I am proud to be part of a government that is delivering the infrastructure we need to deliver vital healthcare services closer to home, for Queenslanders.”  

Quotes attributable to Member for Pine Rivers Nikki Boyd: 

“What an exciting time this is for our community, we live in a wonderful place and these new health services will make a real difference for the people living here.

“This fantastic building opens on Monday 11 December and includes a Minor Injury and Illness Clinic to help take pressure off our busy emergency departments.

“Thank you to all the amazing health care workers staffing the new facility for continuing to provide your world-class healthcare to our community.

Quotes attributable to Member for Kurwongbah Shane King: 

“It’s wonderful to know the Kallangur Satellite Hospital will soon be open and welcoming patients.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to delivering services closer to home, and the new Kallangur Satellite Hospital is another great option for families who need to access our world-class healthcare.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Bancroft Chris Whiting: 

“I’m proud to be part of a government that is delivering the health infrastructure we need to continue the delivery of world-class healthcare for generations to come.”

ENDS