The recently opened Caboolture Satellite Hospital in the rapidly developing northern suburbs of Brisbane appears to be off to a good start, according to early assessments.
Read: Caboolture Satellite Hospital Opens & Welcomes First Patients
Since opening its Minor Injury and Illness Clinic on August 3, the satellite facility has treated nearly 1,800 patients. Importantly, over 90 percent of those patients were discharged after receiving care, with only 3 percent needing transfer to another hospital.
This suggests the majority of patients are using the clinic appropriately for minor health issues. Capacity alerts at the main Caboolture Hospital also dropped significantly in August compared to 2021, with only one Tier 3 alert last month versus four in August last year.
Average visit length at the satellite clinic was two hours. Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the early results indicate the state’s satellite hospitals are successfully providing intended support.
“We built these facilities to direct non-urgent patients away from our busy hospitals and Emergency Departments, and into Minor Injury and Illness Clinics where they will receive more appropriate care,” said Minister Fentiman.
Dr Sean Clark, an emergency department physician at Caboolture Satellite Hospital, said the satellite clinic has seen strong growth in under a month of operation.
“We continue to see a wide range of presentations, mostly joint and limb pain along with some respiratory illnesses due to the time of year.”
“The right sort of patients are presenting at the facility which is positive. We work closely with the Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department and will transfer patients when appropriate. A range of clinics also run out of the Satellite Hospital, boosting a number of services for the community.”
Read: Approval Granted: Caboolture West Takes Off with First Development
Dr Clark believes it is already proving successful in providing additional health care support for the community.
Satellite facilities also opened recently in Redlands and Ripley, with more planned for Kallangur, Tugun, Eight Mile Plains and Bribie Island.
Featured image credit: Caboolture Satellite Hospital/Google Maps
Published 15-September-2023
