- More than 4,600 people presented to Ripley and Redlands Satellite hospital during first weeks of operation
- Both Satellite Hospitals saw more low acuity patients than local emergency departments during September
- Patients being treated within around 90 minutes.
There are promising signs in just the first weeks of operation of the state’s newest satellite hospitals in Ipswich and the Redlands.
The Ripley Satellite Hospital’s Minor Injury and Illness Clinic (MIIC) saw 2,694 people, between August 30 to October 15.
The Redlands Satellite Hospital’s MIIC also provided care to around 1,971 patients during the same period.
Since the new services opened in late August, the Ipswich and Redland Emergency Departments have also seen significant reductions in presentations.
Early data indicates that the number of low acuity presentations, Category 4 and 5, at Ipswich Emergency Department in September decreased by around 350 compared to the month prior. This equates to an average of over 10 fewer presentations per day.
Additionally, Category 5 patients presenting to the Ripley Satellite Hospital’s MIIC during September were more than double that of the Ipswich Emergency Department.
It was similar at the Redlands Satellite Hospital, with triple the number of Category 5 presentations compared to Redland Hospital.
The single busiest day at Ripley saw 79 MIIC presentations, while Redlands busiest period attended to 63 MIIC patients.
Tier 3 capacity alerts at Redland Hospital have also dropped over the past months. There were zero Tier 3 escalations during September, compared to one alert in September 2022.
Patients being treated at both Satellite Hospitals presented, received care, and were on their way home within around 90 minutes.
Kallangur and Tugun Satellite Hospitals are set to open in the coming weeks, while Eight Mile Plains and Bribie Island will open in 2024.
Quotes attributable to Health Minister Shannon Fentiman:
“This early data shows extremely positive signs our Satellite Hospitals are doing exactly what they are intended to do.”
“These facilities were designed to direct non-urgent patients away from our busy hospitals and seeing more Category 4 and 5 patients are attending our Minor Injury and Illness Clinics than our emergency departments is very promising.
“Across our three new satellite hospitals more than 8,200 people have presented to our Minor Injury and Illness Clinics since they opened, that is 8,200 people being kept out of our busy EDs.
“While I am pleased to see these results, we will continue monitoring the impact our Satellite Hospitals are having on the broader health system.”
Quotes attributable to West Moreton Health Clinical Director Prevention, Dr Mei-Ching “Meech” Freeman.
“Ripley Satellite Hospital clinicians are caring for 60–70 patients a day on average.
“We have received excellent feedback from the community about our facility and our team of clinicians.
“We are pleased to be able to provide care closer to home for the growing Ripley community.”
