Inside look: Brisbane south’s new satellite hospital

A new satellite hospital, set to open next week in Brisbane’s south, is hoped will take pressure off strained emergency departments across the city.

Local residents were given their first look inside the new Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital, set to open next week. Picture: Queensland Government.

Residents in Brisbane’s south have been given their first chance to tour a new satellite hospital set to open next week.

The new $65.4 million facility at Eight Mile Plains stands to deliver essential healthcare services for residents in the city’s southern suburbs, which is hoped will ease the pressure on the strained emergency departments at major hospitals across the city.

The naming of these facilities as ‘hospitals’ has led to confusion among some patients, with reports hundreds of Queenslanders mistakenly turning up to satellite hospitals despite needing emergency department care.

The new facility will include a minor injury and illness clinic, kidney dialysis chairs, cancer day therapy chairs, outpatient consultation rooms, and medical imaging and diagnostic services with ultrasound, X-ray and pathology.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman met with local residents and soon-to-be healthcare staff at the open day, saying the new facility will increase health services to the growing community.

“I’m so proud to cut the ribbon today at the Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital,” Ms Fentiman said.

“The Queensland government is investing in the Australian-first satellite hospitals program to help meet the demand for healthcare in our fastest growing regions.

“More than 25,000 additional residents will call Brisbane’s southern suburbs home in the next decade.

“The Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital will be a gamechanger for this growing community, providing healthcare closer to home for residents.”

The minor injury and illness clinic will open daily from 8am-10pm to treat simple fractures, sprains and strains, fevers and coughs, head injuries without loss of consciousness, and a range of non-life threatening conditions.

The new facility will support nearby emergency departments by diagnosing and treating non-life threatening conditions.

Premier Steven Miles at the Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital community open day. Picture: Richard Walker.

Premier Steven Miles said the $65.4 million investment included road widening works outside the facility and is a part of the Queensland government’s $377 million satellite hospital program.

“Satellite hospitals work. They have already proven successful, providing quick, effective and cost-free treatment to thousands of Queenslanders,” Mr Miles said.

“This new Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital will support our local emergency departments, including the busy QEII and Logan hospitals.

“But we’re not stopping there. As part of the Queensland government’s $14 billion Big Build, we’re also investing in major expansions at our southside hospitals to be delivered over the next five years.”

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick echoed the Premier’s words saying “I’m so pleased to see our community of Logan about to share in the benefits that satellite hospitals are bringing across the south east.

“By reducing the pressure on our major hospitals and on GP clinics, we are delivering more responsive healthcare, which matters to Queenslanders”.

More than 100 healthcare workers have been hired to staff the new Satellite Hospital including doctors, nurses, administration officers, allied health practitioners and operational staff.

In line with other Satellite hospitals across south east Queensland, the Eight Mile Plains facility has been given a first nations co-name.

The First Nations co-name Maroo-goodji-ba, was chosen by local traditional owners and symbolises tranquillity and care while honouring the cultural significance of ‘place o red soil’, a term representing Eight Mile Plains.

Appointment-based specialist and outpatient services will be available including a cancer day therapy unit and kidney dialysis unit.

Satellite Hospitals are currently operating in Kallangur, Redlands, Ripley and Tugun.

The Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital at 59 Levington Road, will open on Monday May 27 at 8am.