Satellite Hospitals to be renamed ‘Satellite Health Centres’ to reduce confusion

Satellite Hospitals will be renamed “Satellite Health Centres” under a state government decision aimed at erasing confusion about the facilities.

The Eight Mile Plains Satellite Health Centre. Picture: Queensland Government.

Satellite Hospitals will be renamed “Satellite Health Centre” under a state government decision aimed at erasing confusion about the facilities.

Government sources have revealed Health Minister Tim Nicholls will on Thursday announce the seven facilities will be renamed – after several years of criticism of the former government.

Mr Nicholls’s office on Wednesday evening declined to comment on the timing of the renaming announcement.

It is understood changing signs and documents from Satellite Hospital to Satellite Health Centre will be managed by Queensland Health internally.

Satellite Health Centre was the favoured name in a survey of clinical staff and was the endorsed by experts.

A cost and timeline for the change has not been revealed.

The LNP argued then-Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to name the facilities hospitals caused confusion and would result in people attending who required emergency care.

The former government in November 2023 announced $1.35m would be spent promoting the Satellite Hospital program amid repeated criticism the facilities created “confusion and safety concerns”.

They were built to reduce pressure on major hospitals by diverting patients with non-urgent care needs.

The Australian Medical Association of Queensland supported renaming the facilities.

Originally published as Satellite Hospitals to be renamed ‘Satellite Health Centres’ to reduce confusion