Eight Mile Plains site revealed for new day surgery hospital

A site in a growing southside suburb has been chosen for the latest Queensland Health satellite hospital. It promises to slash wait times for cancer, kidney patients.

The site for a new health hub designed to cut waiting times for day surgery and treatments has been revealed.

Construction will start late this year at two vacant blocks at Levington Rd, Eight Mile Plains, for the State Government’s seventh satellite hospital.

When finished it will include community health services, ambulatory and low acuity day therapy services such as renal dialysis, chemotherapy, complex wound management, urgent care for minor injury and illness, and outpatient activities.

Last September locations for satellite hospitals at Caboolture, Kallangur, Bribie Island, Redlands and Tugun on the Gold Coast.

The site of the new satellite hospital.

Designs and the site for a hospital at Ripley, west of Ipswich, were revealed in February.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the $265 million Satellite Hospitals Program was designed to deliver conveniently-located, community-focused healthcare.

“My Government committed to delivering seven satellite hospitals in the southeast to provide ancillary and minor healthcare services and to ease pressure off nearby hospitals,” she said.

“Securing the site on Levington Road at Eight Mile Plains means this Program is one step closer to becoming a reality.’’

In June last year it was revealed there would be no overnight beds at the hospitals, a key Labor election commitment, prompting the Opposition to accuse Labor of misleading Queenslanders.

“This was a flagship announcement by Labor before the election but now we know these are multipurpose facilities with no overnight beds … these are not hospitals,” Opposition Health spokeswoman Ros Bates said.

Artist's impression of the Ipswich satellite hospital. Designs are yet to be released for the Eight Mile Plains facility.

Her comments came after Health Minister Yvette D’Ath admitted, in response to a question on notice, that there would be no long-stay beds.

“I am advised that while these facilities will not contain overnight beds, important services such as oncology and renal services will be housed in these satellite hospitals,” she said.

“The provision of these services in our satellite hospitals will deliver increased bed capacity across our existing public hospital network.”

Ms D’Ath said the seven facilities would target early intervention and conduct minor surgery to free up space in major emergency hospitals.

“You think of all that day surgery where people are currently still taking up space in a room and also surgical theatres that can be done in our satellite hospitals,” she said.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the Eight Mile Plains site was a parcel of RACQ-owned land.

“The Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital will provide non-urgent healthcare closer to home for many people on Brisbane’s southside and Logan and it will take pressure off nearby hospitals including QEII, the PA and Logan Hospital,’’ he said.

Peter Russo. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“It will improve healthcare and support jobs in construction and healthcare jobs in operation.”

Ms D’Ath said there would be community consultation, but the hospital would be approved through the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation process which bypasses Council rules.

“Eight Mile Plains and the surrounding areas have all experienced significant growth in recent years, and as a result, seen increased demand for health services,” she said.

“A range of services are being considered for these healthcare facilities, including community health services, ambulatory and low acuity day therapy services such as renal dialysis, chemotherapy, complex wound management, urgent care for minor injury and illness, and outpatient activities.”

Local Labor MP, Peter Russo, said it was a huge win for southsiders.

“I know that it will make a huge difference for our local community,” he said.