Caboolture hospital Archives - Caboolture Today

Man In Critical Condition After Morayfield Snake Bite

A local man is in critical condition at Caboolture Hospital after being bitten by a snake at a Morayfield property yesterday afternoon.

The incident occurred around 3:16 PM Sunday when paramedics were called to treat the man in his 30s who suffered a snake bite to the ankle. He was rushed to Caboolture Hospital where he remains in critical condition.

This case highlights a concerning trend across Queensland, with seven people hospitalised for snake bites over the weekend alone. The spike in incidents has prompted health officials to issue fresh warnings to residents in Caboolture and surrounding areas.

According to Queensland Ambulance Service data, 24 snake bite reports were recorded in the week leading up to February 10, with concentrations in the Gold Coast, Cairns and Hinterland, and Darling Downs regions. The monthly figures show a dramatic increase from 88 incidents in November 2024 to 129 in December, with 128 cases in January 2025.

Snake catcher David Voss noted that this has been an unusually active period. “It’s been a busy summer,” Voss explained. “Snake season started a little earlier than usual following a warm winter last year.”

The surge isn’t limited to the Caboolture area. Rockhampton has experienced a notable increase in hospitalisations for snake bites between November 2024 and January 2025. Last November, 16-year-old Beau Horan died following a snake bite in Wurdong Heights.

Safety Warnings from Health Officials

Queensland Ambulance Service Rockhampton acting operations supervisor Joseph O’Donnell advised: “If you see a snake, leave it alone. We assume every snake bite is a venomous bite.”

Health officials warn that snake bite symptoms can range from vomiting and diarrhoea to significant pain at the bite site. However, bites aren’t always immediately noticeable – they may not be visible or felt right away, with symptoms potentially taking an hour or more to appear.

What To Do If Bitten

Queensland Health advises:

Don’t panic, run, or try to catch the snake
Move to a safe place and remain still
Don’t wash, suck, or cut the bite site
Call triple-0 immediately
Lie down to prevent movement until an ambulance arrives

Residents seeking specific information on treating bites based on location can consult the Queensland Health website.

The Caboolture region’s warm climate and diverse environments make it an ideal habitat for various snake species. As temperatures remain high, authorities urge residents to remain vigilant, particularly when outdoors in bush areas or when working in gardens and sheds.

Published 17-February-2025

Teenage Girl Rushed to Caboolture Hospital After Suffering Multiple Snake Bites

A teenager was rushed to Caboolture Hospital after suffering multiple snake bites to her foot at a private residence in Dayboro, earlier this week.

Read: Zero-Tolerance Policy Over Dog Attack in Morayfield That Left Four People Injured

Emergency services were called to the rural town in the Moreton Bay region just before 11:30 p.m. on Monday, March 18.

Queensland Ambulance paramedics found the girl, in her mid-teens, had sustained multiple bites to her foot from an unknown snake species. She was transported to Caboolture Hospital in a stable condition.

snake bites — Photo credit: Glenn Batten/Google Maps

In a separate incident this week, a man has tragically died after being bitten by a highly venomous snake near Townsville. Reports indicate the snake was likely an eastern brown snake, however the exact species has not been confirmed. The man was rushed to hospital in critical condition but did not survive the venomous bite.

Eastern brown snake (Photo credit: environment.des.qld.gov.au)

Snake bite incidents, whilst relatively rare, can potentially be life-threatening if anti-venom is not administered promptly. Residents in rural and bushland areas are reminded to be cautious and seek immediate medical attention if bitten by a venomous snake.

Snake bites are always considered medical emergencies, prompting the Queensland Ambulance Service to urge calling Triple Zero (000) immediately if one occurs. The Ambulance Service stresses the importance of not delaying medical treatment when snake bite incidents happen.

Snakes in Queensland

According to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland is a veritable hotspot for snake species, with around 120 different kinds found across the state.

A staggering 65 percent of these snakes are venomous, including the extremely dangerous front-fanged elapids like brown snakes and taipans, as well as some rear-fanged colubrid varieties.

Red-bellied black snake (Photo credit: Queensland Museum)

The department notes that snakes are frequently drawn into residential areas unintentionally when homeowners provide sources of food and shelter. Brown snakes and taipans, which feed on rodents, may be lured to garden sheds, barns, or other outbuildings inhabited by rats and mice.

Pythons routinely enter chicken coops and aviaries to hunt the birds housed within, and have also been known to take up residence in roof spaces whilst hunting small mammals like possums.

Northern tree snake (Photo credit: Queensland Museum)

The brown tree snake specialises in raiding aviaries after making its way inside to consume caged birds. At night, these arboreal serpents also hunt geckos around windows and other entry points into homes. Even the generally innocuous common tree snake can find its way indoors whilst pursuing frog prey around garden areas.

Read: Caboolture Satellite Hospital Easing Pressure on Main Hospital, Early Reports Say

With such an abundance of venomous serpents found throughout Queensland’s urban and suburban environments, authorities urge residents to exercise extreme vigilance and immediately seek emergency medical treatment if bitten.

Featured image credit: Peter Baskerville/Google Maps

Published 21-March-2024

Caboolture Hospital Welcomes Leap Year Baby: A Rare Celebration

On a day that arrives only every four years, Caboolture Hospital recorded the birth of its lone Leap Year baby for 2024, Emerson, the pride and joy of parents Kelley and Roy Mahoney.

Born on 29 February 2024, Emerson’s arrival was a joyful surprise for the couple, who had anticipated a March 6 delivery. Roy expressed feelings of joy because it’s pretty special to have a baby born on “such a unique day.”

Other Leap Year Births in Brisbane

In 2020, Tahlia Field, a young mother, also from Caboolture, experienced the special joy of giving birth to her son on 29 February, which also happened to be her own leap year birthday. This rare coincidence, with odds of 1 in 2,134,521, created a unique bond between mother and son, who will celebrate their actual birthdays only every four years.

On 29 February 1940, the Brisbane Women’s Hospital in Herston added to the leap year festivities by welcoming twelve leap year babies.

Caboolture Hospital — *Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland*

This group of leaplings, consisting of nine boys and three girls, joins the exclusive club of individuals celebrating their birthdays quadrennially. The phenomenon of leap year births brings a mix of amusement and practical considerations for families, as they navigate the celebration of birthdays in non-leap years.

*Photo Credit: National Library of Australia*

Celebrating Leap Year Birthdays

Leap year babies, often referred to as “leaplings,” find themselves in a unique position, celebrating their actual birthdays only once every four years. This rarity makes their birthdays special and poses exciting challenges and opportunities for celebration. Families and leaplings often choose either 28 February or 1 March for off-year celebrations, maintaining a sense of continuity while embracing the uniqueness of their situation.

Leaplings share their birthday with about 5 million other people worldwide, making it the rarest birthday with a 1 in 1,461 chance of being born on the 29th of February.

Today is 29 February, this day only occurs every four years and is the rarest birthday in Australia. 568 people were born on this day in 2020. Tag a leap year baby! 👇🎂🎉 pic.twitter.com/95sWmSyT8d
— Australian Bureau of Statistics (@ABSStats) February 29, 2024

The purpose of leap years is to synchronize the months with the Earth’s orbit around the Sun and its annual events such as solstices and equinoxes. The Earth takes around 365.2422 days to orbit the Sun, which is slightly longer than our calendar year by about a quarter of a day. As a result, the calendar drifts away from the seasons over time, and leap years are added to adjust the calendar and align it with the astronomical year.

Leap years are not exclusive to the Gregorian calendar, as they have been utilized in various calendars throughout history, including the ancient Roman calendar. The additional day is added to the end of February, which was the last month in the original Roman calendar.

Published 5-March-2024

Caboolture Hospital Multi-Storey Car Park Opens With a Two-Week Free Parking Period

Caboolture Hospital is all set to unveil its eagerly awaited six-level multi-storey car park, known as P2. This launch heralds a significant improvement in parking accessibility for patients, visitors, and staff, boasting around 1000 parking spaces, complete with designated accessible parking, motorcycle bays, and electric vehicle charging stations.

Enhancing Access at Caboolture Hospital

On Monday, 16 Oct 2023, the car park gates will open promptly at 6:00 a.m. and will provide a two-week free parking period, allowing everyone to familiarise themselves with the new multi-storey car park. The introduction of this car park brings the total number of parking spaces on the Caboolture Hospital campus to approximately 1,500, ensuring improved access for all.

However, paid parking at Caboolture Hospital will commence on Monday, 30 Oct 2023. The cost of parking will vary, ranging from $3 for one hour to a maximum daily rate capped at $13. It’s essential to note that patient drop-off and pick-up zones at the hospital will remain free of charge.

The Caboolture Hospital multi-storey car park is owned and operated by Metro North Health, ensuring that all revenue collected from parking rates will be reinvested into the hospital for capital repayments, operations, maintenance, and further enhancements. The goal is to facilitate cost recovery, and the hospital does not intend to generate profits from parking fees.

To support individuals experiencing financial hardship, frequent hospital visits, extended stays, or other special circumstances, a concession program will provide discounted parking rates.

A Part of the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment

The multi-storey car park is a significant milestone in the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment project, aimed at increasing capacity with an additional 130 beds and enhancing the hospital’s ability to provide specialized care and high-level services tailored to the local community’s health needs.

Navigating Parking at Caboolture Hospital

Access to P2 is available from both McKean Street and the All Weather Access Road. When entering the hospital campus, follow the clearly marked signs directing you to P2. Several car parking options are available for patients and visitors:

P1: Temporary drop-off zone for the Emergency Department and the Main Hospital.

P2: Best access for the Emergency Department and Caboolture Hospital Main Entry.

P3: Ideal for Outpatient Services appointments.

P8: Convenient for Community and Oral Health and Mental Health services.

P9: Designed for drop-off, pick-up, and accessible parking for Mental Health services.

Convenient Payment Options

Starting 30 October, visitors will need to press for a paper ticket upon entering the car park, which will raise the entry boom gate. Payment for parking is required upon exit and can be done at the pay stations, where you can pay with either cash or credit/debit card. At the exit gate, credit/debit card payments are accepted, while cash payments will not be available.

Pay stations are strategically located in the multi-storey car park (P2) and near the Main Hospital, Outpatient Services, Community and Oral Health, and Mental Health buildings. This approach is expected to streamline the parking experience for all visitors to Caboolture Hospital.

Published 13-Oct-2023

Emergency Cases Experience Long Ramping Times at Caboolture Hospital

A new report from the Australian Medical Association shows that Caboolture Hospital ranks fifth among public hospitals in Queensland with the worst waiting time for emergency cases, specifically for patients in stretchers from ambulances.

AMA’s 2022 public health report card revealed that the longest waiting time for a patient brought in by an ambulance at Caboolture Hospital was 465 minutes or almost eight hours in August 2021. However, the numbers improved in January 2022 when the median waiting time dropped to 264 minutes or 4.4 hours.

The Performance Data from Queensland Health, on the other hand, indicated that between October to December 2021, Caboolture Hospital had a 20-minute median waiting time for treating Category 3 patients or potentially life-threatening cases, where patients should be seen by a treating doctor or nurse within 30 minutes of arriving.

Yet, transfers off-stretcher within 30 minutes, as well as patients seen within the clinically recommended time frames recommended by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, comprised just 65 per cent of the emergency cases.

1,500 More Beds Needed

AMA Queensland Prof Chris Perry said that Queensland public hospitals have been “performing well overall” in spite of the stretched resources. However, he acknowledged the long waiting times in the emergency departments and said that Queensland needs 1,500 more beds to improve ramping times.

“Our hospitals must run at less than 90 per cent occupancy so there is surge capacity, and Hospital and Health Services must conduct a detailed analysis of patient flow within the hospital and report against that analysis,” Prof Perry said.

“This can work if it is underpinned by strong effective leadership, innovation, and appropriate investment by the State and Federal Governments.”

Caboolture Hospital is currently undergoing major redevelopment that will see the delivery of:

a new five storey Clinical Services Building
a new Multi-Storey Carpark
an expansion and refurbishment program that will enhance and modernise spaces within a number of areas of the existing hospital
the relocation of Building Engineering and Maintenance Services into a new facility

The improvements are expected to address the projected population growth of 51 per cent by 2031. The redevelopment is expected to finish in 2023.

Queensland Health $21-Million Budget Cut for 2022

Meanwhile, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said that all states, including Queensland, asked for more funding from the Federal Government to improve the services of the public health system. However, the recent Budget Papers indicated a $21-million cut for Queensland public hospitals.

“Queensland hospitals losing federal funding will mean Queenslanders will have to wait longer for the health treatment they deserve,” Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said.

New Hospital Being Planned For Caboolture

Did you know that a parcel of land on Rowe Street was chosen to become the location of a planned satellite hospital in Caboolture?

Read: Morayfield Couple Dedicates Life To Saving Senior Dogs

The satellite hospital at Rowe St is expected to offer a range of services, including community health services, ambulatories and low acuity day therapy services such as renal dialysis, chemotherapy, complex wound management, urgent care for minor injury and illness, and outpatient activities.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the news earlier this month, stating that it’s all about investing in health and infrastructure as well as creating jobs and strengthening the economy.

At present, a business case for the whole Satellite Hospital Program is being prepared to identify which services will be offered at each location. It’s expected that it will support up to 773 local jobs once the program is rolled out.

Following the completion of the business case and acquisition of land, the next stage would be the construction of the hospital which is expected to take around one year.

Caboolture, along with Redlands, Pine Rivers and the Gold Coast are among the seven areas where satellite hospitals are being built under a $265-million commitment made by the state government.

“Satellite hospitals will take pressure off our health system by easing the demand on major hospitals and also support hundreds of jobs for Queenslanders,” the Premier said.

The selected areas, according to Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, have experienced significant growth in recent years and it has seen increased demand for health services.

Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said the satellite hospital will be a game-changer for his constituents. He said it would be a smart way to reduce demand on Caboolture hospital and will allow locals to get health treatment quickly and efficiently.

Featured Image Photo credit: Queensland Government (Indicative only)