Early data from the Caboolture Satellite Hospital’s Minor Injury and Illness Clinic in North Brisbane is indicating positive signs for the region. Since its opening on August 3rd, nearly 1,800 people have sought care at the clinic. Of those, over 90% were discharged after receiving care, with only 3% requiring transfer to another hospital.

This data suggests that the majority of patients visiting the Minor Injury and Illness Clinic are doing so for appropriate reasons. In addition, alerts for Tier 3 capacity at Caboolture Hospital have significantly decreased compared to August of the previous year. Only one Tier 3 capacity alert was issued since the opening of the Satellite Hospital, compared to four alerts in August 2022.

Early figures also show a decrease in low acuity presentations at the Caboolture Emergency Department. Approximately 150 fewer Category 4 and 5 patients sought care at the Emergency Department in August compared to the previous year. Furthermore, more low acuity patients preferred visiting the Satellite Hospital’s Minor Injury and Illness Clinic.

The average Length of Stay for each patient at the Caboolture Satellite Hospital’s clinic was two hours. The success of the Caboolture Satellite Hospital has prompted the opening of similar facilities in the Redlands and Ripley, with more locations in Kallangur and Tugun scheduled to open later this year. Two additional Satellite Hospitals in Eight Mile Plains and Bribie Island are set to open in 2024.

This Satellite Hospital program is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure. With a total of 3,378 new hospital beds, including nearly 500 beds in the current financial year, these initiatives aim to alleviate pressure on busy hospitals and Emergency Departments.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman is encouraged by the early data, stating that the Satellite Hospitals are fulfilling their purpose of redirecting non-urgent patients to clinics where they receive appropriate care. Dr Sean Clark, a clinician at the Caboolture Emergency Department and Satellite Hospital, expressed pride in being the first Satellite Hospital in the state and confirmed the positive impact it has had on providing additional healthcare support for the community.

As these Satellite Hospitals continue to make a difference, the government remains focused on improving hospital performance through significant investment in healthcare infrastructure.