Labor claims ‘sham’ review will see cuts to Tugun Satellite Hospital despite patient boost

Opposition leader Steven Miles has made explosive claims about the state government’s plans for a Gold Coast satellite hospital, which Premier David Crisafulli says are ‘outrageous’. Full details.

The Gold Coast’s new satellite hospital is diverting more than 20,000 patients away from busy emergency departments but a political storm is brewing about its future, with Labor claiming the state government is laying the groundwork for major cuts.

On a visit to the southern Gold Coast on Tuesday state Opposition leader Steven Miles is to call on the Crisafulli Government to give an iron-clad backing to the smaller hospitals as a review kicks off.

Premier David Crisafulli later described the claims as “outrageous” and added that more staff and services would be provided.

New figures show 1633 people presented for minor injury and illnesses at Tugun in September last year, up from 313 a month after it opened in October the previous year.

Outpatient appointments had increased from 119 in January 2024 to 1105 in September. Total patient loads for that period reached 23,628.

Boost in patient numbers — Tugun Satellite Hospital Kidney Dialysis Unit Nurse Manager Claire Oliver with patient Ken and Gillian Balding. Photo: Supplied.

Internal department emails show Queensland Health is conducting a “comprehensive evaluation of satellite hospitals” with a specific focus on minor injury and illness clinics.

The Department’s planning branch will review service models, workforce capacity, security risks and future funding models.

“Consultation will be in the first part of 2025,” an acting planning branch director wrote.

If the recommendations impact on staff there would be prior consultation before any potential changes, the director added.

The Minor Injuries Dept at the Tugun Satellite Hospital. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

“Staff insights and feedback will be critical in identifying service model opportunities and areas for improvement,” the director said.

Mr Miles accused the Government of conducting a “sham review” which would lay the groundwork for staff cuts.

The new data shows more than 130,000 people presented to satellite hospitals in just over a year, highlighting the success in diverting non-urgent cases away from busy hospital emergency departments.

Mr Miles said Gold Coasters could be forced to return to hospital waiting rooms, or to pay for a visit to a GP, for minor injuries and illnesses if the LNP revamp the Tugun facilities.

He called on Premier David Crisafulli and Health Minister Tim Nicholls to rule out any cuts to staffing or health care services that are currently offered at the state’s seven satellite hospitals.

Opposition leader Steven Miles and Deputy Cameron Dick at the Tugun Satellite Hospital on Tuesday January 21. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Mr Crisafulli said: “In the end the Opposition can only make outrageous claims and continue to be proven wrong time and time again for so long.

“If they want to make allegations of things, they have to be able to prove it, otherwise the music runs out for them.”

He said work was underway to “properly rename the hospitals” and “bolster services that are there”.

“That’s going to take more workers and that’s an important point. There will be more staff employed there,” he said.

Premier David Crisafulli. Picture: Supplied.

The satellite hospital facilities saw a combined 130,979 minor injury and illness clinic presentations (excluding Bribie Island) between August 2023 and September 2024.

A further 62,504 outpatient appointments were delivered in the same period.

“Instead of waging war on the satellite hospitals, David Crisafulli and his Health Minister should actually speak to some of the thousands of patients who have been through the doors,” Mr Miles said.

“David Crisafulli is using this secret sham review to justify cuts to services and sack workers at Queensland’s satellite hospitals.

“He promised Queenslanders there would be no cuts at Labor’s satellite hospitals, but less than three months in he has launched a review into the services provided and the funding model.

“He has done this in secret without telling the Queenslanders who use these satellite hospitals, or asking for their feedback.”

Mr Nicholls in December last year assured Queenslanders that the seven satellite hospitals in Caboolture, Redland, Ripley, Tugun, Kallangur, Eight Mile Plains and Bribie Island would continue to operate as usual.

The Government had announced it would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars renaming the hospitals following overwhelming support from medical professionals, given there was confusion in the community about their services.

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