Editorial: Change the name of these ‘hospitals’

The latest reports of problems with satellite hospitals only reiterates the stupidity of naming these medical centres “hospitals” in the first place, writes the editor.

The thousands of people who have flooded the state’s new satellite hospitals have proved Labor was correct in assessing the demand for a boosted healthcare response.

But the stories of people being misdiagnosed, left waiting for hours only to be turned away, and turning up to the clinics with emergency conditions only reiterates the stupidity of naming these medical centres “hospitals” in the first place.

An investigation by The Courier-Mail has found the satellite hospitals have been beset by long wait times for patients, with staff under increasing pressure and misdiagnoses reported.

The state government cannot say it was not warned that branding these, albeit needed, medical centres completely incorrectly was a misstep at best – and pending disaster at worst.

The confusion among locals is already ramping up at Kallangur less than a month after the doors opened, with residents left disheartened that their conditions cannot be treated by the onsite equipment, or that after hours of waiting they are sent to hospitals anyway.

Mum Courtney Turner said a trip to the new Kallangur Satellite Hospital on New Year’s Eve left her waiting for treatment for her sick two-year-old son for three hours.

Ms Turner said she had taken her child to the facility – which opened in early December – to avoid “clogging up” the hospital emergency department.

But after her experience, she said “we should have gone straight to ED”.

Another parent said they had taken their child to the Caboolture Satellite Hospital with a suspected broken foot and was told there were no fractures, only for a subsequent trip to Redcliffe Hospital that confirmed a break.

To be clear, most of these cases are not the fault of the nurses and medical staff who make up the bulk of the workers manning the clinics.

Nor do we lay the blame at the feet of the locals, who, many have said, think they are doing the right thing by avoiding going to the already overstretched emergency departments with fevers, broken bones and other injuries they feel can be treated by the highly spruiked satellite hospitals.

No, it was the political spinners who placed a bet that a government boasting about the investment of seven new satellite “hospitals” would have far greater impact on the voting public in the lead-up to the 2020 election.

The political plus of being able to spruik new “hospitals” (albeit with the somewhat “satellite” caveat) was politically shrewd, yes, but has only caused confusion in practice – and will continue to unless a wiser head intervenes.

More than a year ago, The Courier-Mail revealed leaked audio of a senior Queensland Health director expressing their fears over the move – that it would cause confusion – because these sites have few doctors, no overnight beds, and are not, frankly, hospitals.

It was a sentiment shared by many within the sector – and one which has not changed.

And so it will continue, until someone – perhaps a new Premier, himself a former health minister – has the guts to admit they got this one wrong, change the name, celebrate what they actually do and properly inform the communities they serve.

ANOTHER REASON TO BE KIND

Queensland’s mental health crisis has been laid bare by startling WorkCover figures that show mental injury claims have ballooned by 28 per cent in a single year.

WorkCover Queensland’s annual report reveals that 2532 primary mental injury claims were accepted in the past year.

And while they make up only a fraction of the claims made for physical injuries, the average claim cost for mental injury is $20,680 compared with $10,900 for a physical injury. The cost is one of the reasons for a rise in WorkCover premiums, just the second in a decade.

But while the insurance system may help treat mental injuries it is clear there is an ever increasing need for improved understanding of the reasons for recent rises in mental health issues (and not just the usual blaming of the Covid-19 pandemic) as well as prevention initiatives.

Maurice Blackburn principal lawyer Alison Barrett said workers like hospital staff, police officers, paramedics, and even bus drivers were seeking help, with many exposed to occupational violence in the workplace.

It is shocking to think that an apparent decline in basic manners, and the abuse of people who are just trying to do their jobs, can have such long-lasting and debilitating effects. Maybe the solution is everyone just being a bit more kind to each other.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here