Total confusion for patients and doctors over Qld’s satellite hospitals

The Queensland president of the Australian Medical Association says it’s not just the public who are confused about services on offer at satellite hospital - even doctors don’t get it.

One of the state’s top doctors reports that she has no idea of the exact services that are on offer at satellite hospitals.

President of the Australian Medical Association Maria Boulton, who works as a general practitioner, told The Courier-Mail that doctors are confused as to what each hospital can cope with and where to refer patients.

“It’s no wonder that the public is confused. GPs haven’t even been given clear details of what is offered where. They are not really hospitals but they don’t operate as medical centres either. I wouldn’t even know what is a better name to call them,” Dr Boulton said.

The front entrance of the Tugun Satellite Hospital. Picture: Glenn Campbell

While the AMAQ chief welcomes the investment into healthcare with the satellite hospitals at Kallangur, Caboolture, Tugun, Redlands and Ripley, she insists on more transparency to allow smoother operation.

“Doctors and patients need to know where to go without wasting valuable time. I believe that different services are offered at different places,” she said.

The doctor said that dialysis is available at some centres and not others.

“This is a vital service and patients need to be clear if there is a dialysis chair near them,” Dr Boulton said.

“At the moment people need to make commonsense decisions for themselves. If they feel they have an emergency on their hands then go to hospital and if it is not an emergency see their GP.”

The dialysis unit as the Tugun Satellite Hospital. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The state government has promoted the satellite hospitals as a way to ease the overloading of emergency departments but they have been slammed by patients over for long waiting times, under pressure staff and misdiagnosis.

While the hospitals have been successful in diverting many hundreds of people from busy EDs, the confusion over services has seen patients travelling to the newly opened centres at Kallangur and Caboolture north of Brisbane over the new year period ultimately to be sent to emergency departments or home.

Figures obtained by The Courier-Mail in November revealed 356 category-one and two patients – those most serious – turned up to the three satellite hospitals since they first opened in July. Category-one patients have “immediately life-threatening” conditions and are required to be treated within two minutes, while category-two patients must be seen within 10 minutes for their “imminently life-threatening” condition.

In 2022, The Courier-Mail revealed leaked audio of a senior Queensland Health director telling staff she had lobbied the government not to brand the sites as hospitals fearing confusion.

Originally published as Total confusion for patients and doctors over Qld’s satellite hospitals