Qld election 2024: Labor to announce new satellite hospitals

The Queensland Labor government is set to announce more facilities that have stoked controversy, to shore up at-risk seats.

The Queensland Labor government will announce new satellite hospitals in up to seven seats it risks losing at the October state election.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has previously said the government would expand the successful satellite hospital program, but it can now be revealed marginal seats are on the shortlist.

Final locations for the hospitals could be announced as early as this week, despite the shortlist not yet being finalised.

Locations being considered by the government include Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Yarrabilba (Logan) and Caloundra (Sunshine Coast).

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman in Question Time on Tuesday. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

Polling indicates Premier Steven Miles’s government will lose the seats – with the exception of Gladstone, Cairns and Yarrabilba, in the Logan electorate – at the state election.

They will be built if Labor is re-elected for a fourth term.

The satellite hospitals would be the most significant targeted election pledge by Mr Miles in marginal seats.

Seven satellite hospitals have been built since the 2020 election to divert patients with minor injuries away from major hospitals.

The state government has faced criticism about calling them hospitals amid concern Queenslanders facing serious injury or illness would mistake them for facilities with emergency departments.