Aussie first for new Caboolture hospital

The first satellite hospital in Australia has opened today in Caboolture with a special community event.

An Open Day as enabled local residents to look inside the multi-million dollar facility before it opens to patients on Thursday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined visitors at the Rowe St hospital – the first of seven to open across South-East Queensland in the next 12 months.

The Premier said the hospitals will “help to reduce pressure on our busy emergency departments”.

“Rapidly growing communities, like Caboolture, need free healthcare services that keep pace with their needs,” Premier Palaszczuk said.

“I look forward to the remaining Satellite Hospitals coming online in the next 12 months, to the benefit of Queensland families.”

At Caboolture, a Minor Illness and Injury Clinic will give free urgent care for those not needing an emergency department. It also has on-site medical imaging.

The clinic will open 8am-10pm daily for simple fractures, sprains and strains, head injuries without loss of consciousness and other urgent conditions.

Caboolture Satellite Hospital has outpatient and community health services including adults and children’s oral health clinics, mental health services and a sleep studies service.

There’s an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Hub including maternal and infant health care workers, perinatal wellbeing, diabetes education, child health nurse, and allied health services.

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman said it is an “amazing facility”.

“In addition to these new and expanded health services, we’re also creating approximately 70 new jobs for healthcare workers and support staff at the satellite hospital,” she said.

State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said the hospital will “make a significant difference” and Ali King, Member for Pumicestone, said it will bring “key services closer to home.”

Satellite Hospitals in Bribie Island, Eight Mile Plains, Kallangur, Redlands, Ripley and Tugun are being built in a $377 million program, which was originally put at $265 million.

Anyone can attend a public hospital or satellite hospital for treatment. If you hold a Medicare card, and choose to be treated as a public patient, your acute medical treatment will be free.

If not eligible for a Medicare card, you will have to pay for treatment. For more information visit the Medicare eligibility page.