- Townsville University Hospital (TUH) Rapid Access Clinic open for business, taking pressure off emergency departments
- TUH received funding to run the service in this year’s state budget
- It’s the second Rapid Access Clinic for Townsville residents
Queensland’s Acting Premier Steven Miles has officially opened Townsville University Hospital’s newest Rapid Access Clinic.
The new clinic was made possible thanks to a $1.1 million investment in this year’s state budget.
It means Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS) is now home to two rapid access clinics for patients with chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes, reducing presentations to the emergency department (ED) and unnecessary admissions to hospital.
A general medicine rapid access clinic commenced in June at Townsville University Hospital (TUH), joining the existing respiratory rapid access clinic offered out of Kirwan Community Health Campus.
The Palaszczuk Government’s budget delivered Townsville HHS a record budget of $1.3 billion.
Quotes attributable to Acting Premier Steven Miles:
“The Palaszczuk Government’s $1.1 million investment in this health service to deliver rapid access clinics plays a crucial role in offering alternative treatment pathways for patients with chronic conditions who require ongoing contact with the health system.
“Investing in services like these clinics reduces pressure on busy emergency departments while also improving the health of chronically unwell patients and where possible, allows them to receive treatment comfortably in their own homes.”
Quotes attributable to Health Minister Shannon Fentiman:
“Every Queenslander deserves quality health care, no matter where they live.
“This facility will take pressure off the busy Townsville University Hospital Emergency Department, having a positive impact throughout the entire local health system.
“I’m proud to be part of a Government that’s investing in keeping Queenslanders safe and healthy, closer to home.”
Quotes attributable to Mundingburra MP Les Walker:
“Each patient who is seen in a rapid access clinic is one patient diverted away from the ED and into a dedicated clinical space with staff who are familiar with their care and case.
“This is a wonderful place to live, and these new health services add to the quality care at Townsville University Hospital and will make a real difference to the people of this community.”
Quotes attributable to Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper:
”We have a growing and ageing population that is putting increased demand on our public health services which is why we are investing in these Rapid Access Clinics at Townsville University Hospital and Kirwan Community Health Campus.
“As chair of Parliament’s Health Committee we made recommendations in our inquiry into Primary Care to seek alternate models of care to reduce pressure off our emergency departments.
“Already the respiratory rapid access clinic at Kirwan has provided patients with care closer to home and has reduced presentations to the hospital’s emergency department.”
Quotes attributable to Townsville MP Scott Stewart:
“We know Townsville HHS emergency departments had 35,371 attendances from April to June 2023, compared to 33,312 in the previous quarter. ”That’s a six per cent increase in the number of patients presenting to these local emergency departments compared to the previous quarter but clinics like these – and our Putting Patients First plan – will go a long way in keep presentations and wait times down, which is why as a government we continue to invest in services like this.”
Quotes attributable to Townsville HHS health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes:
“Our rapid access clinics have streamlined the delivery of care for patients who did not necessarily need to be seen in the ED.
“We know the demand on our health service is growing and its innovative models of care like this that allow us to meet the needs of our community.
”No one likes being in hospital and with clinics like these we can reduce the number of people not only presenting to our ED but, also, get people back in the comfort of their own home sooner.
”The work of staff at both the TUH and Kirwan clinics are leading the way in developing the very best care for our community.”
Quotes attributable to TUH staff specialist Associate Professor Dr Manjit Pawar:
”This model of care is new for us as a health service but I’m looking forward to seeing our patient numbers grow in the future.
“The clinic model is unique in that we must remain flexible and adaptable to a patient’s needs, which includes seeing urgent referrals the same day or within 24 hours and those less urgent patients within 48 hours.
“Now, rather than these patients presenting to ED and being admitted we can see them safely and efficiently as an outpatient and decide the right way to continue their care.
“This might mean keeping someone in their home with support from the clinic or at times, making a call to admit for a short time to get them back to better health so they can then return home with our ongoing support.
“Fundamentally, we are streamlining the process for complex and chronic patients who ordinarily would spend time waiting for care in our ED.
“As we see more patients and as demand for the clinic grows, we can expand our models of care even further to see more patients referred in from GPs or offer telehealth appointments.
“The potential this model of care has excites me and I’m looking forward to what the future brings for north Queensland patients.”
