Qld Health D’Ath tries to shut down name game over ‘deceptive’ satellite hospitals

The Health Minister has tried to pour water on claims over the “deceptive” naming of Queensland’s new satellite hospitals.

Patients don’t care what a medical facility is called, according to Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath in the wake of the satellite hospital controversy.

The minister’s comments in Townsville on Wednesday follow Courier-Mail revelations a Queensland Health senior director had told staff she “lobbied” against the naming of the hospitals, and that they were a “political direction”.

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Ms D’Ath also revealed she had not bothered to listen to the recording of the senior staffer’s comments, because it was just the opinion of “one individual”.

The seven new satellite hospitals across southeast Queensland were a key Labor 2020 election promise but will not have beds, emergency departments or operate 24/7.

Instead they will provide differing services across each site, such as wound management, renal dialysis, chemotherapy and minor illness care.

“I haven’t listened to the recording, quite simply because this is one individual out of a workforce of around 120,000 employees across Queensland Health,” Ms D’Ath said.

“There are going to be individuals who work for us who have a difference of opinion with regards to what government announces as far as our commitments. I respect that and I have no issue with that.

“What I do know is when a consumer or a patient walks into a satellite hospital for dialysis or mental health support, they’re not going to care what name is on the front of that building.

“They’re going to care that they can access these services closer to home without going to a major hospital and take pressure off of those major hospitals.”

Minister for Health Yvette D'Ath. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Gold Coast MP Laura Gerber said the “deceptive” naming of Queensland’s new satellite hospitals could lead to a tragedy.

Speaking at an LNP health town hall on Wednesday, Ms Gerber said she feared someone could travel to the new Tugun satellite hospital – currently under construction in her electorate – expecting a traditional hospital.

“We know that the Tweed Hospital will be closing down next year, and almost one in four patients that present to the ED (emergency department) are Queenslanders. Where are all of those Queenslanders going to go when it closes down?” she said.

“We know the Gold Coast University hospital and Robina Hospital are already at capacity, and then we have the Tugun satellite hospital which isn’t a real hospital.

“If those people who would otherwise go to the Tweed Hospital turn up to the Tugun satellite hospital there is going to be a tragedy.

“We have been deceived into thinking that’s a hospital – it’s not a hospital, there’s no ED, there’s no overnight beds, there’s no operating theatre.”

Meanwhile a Bribie Island local said some in the community had “taken the bait” on the new facility.

“Numerous locals here in (the) Bribie area do NOT understand what we are getting with this “satellite hospital,” one local posted on the region’s community Facebook page on Wednesday.

“It was just an election promise to fool the gullible and many took the bait. So those of you that continue to be excited about this … “hospital”, wake-up”.

Another said “they are building a medical centre … you won’t hear me use that ‘h’ word”, while another local previously posted on Local MP Ali King’s page “you promised Bribie a hospital – and this (the satellite hospital) is not it.”

But others defended the new build, saying “I don’t care what it’s called, I just want the services close to home”.

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