Author STEPHANIE BENNETT
(Courier Mail, 12 January 2024, p.4)
THE LNP would rename the state’s seven satellite hospitals should they win the October election over fears the label has led to serious confusion among patients and doctors.
But the state government has reiterated “hospital” in the naming of the sites – designed to treat patients with “minor injuries and illnesses” – with Deputy Premier Cameron Dick insisting “that’s what they are”.
LNP spokeswoman Ros Bates said the opposition was committed to “renaming, resourcing and running these facilities properly”.
“It’s time the Labor government starts listening to experts and renames the satellite hospitals to what they actually are,” she said.
Last week, The Courier-Mail revealed GPs were expressing confusion about what was on offer at the satellite hospitals.
“Despite the name, these satellite hospitals don’t provide the services that hospitals provide,” Australian Medical Association (AMA) of Queensland president Maria Boulton said.
“The state government’s satellite hospitals have recently been under fire over long wait times and under-pressure staff, however, the root of the issue here is that patients are turning up to the wrong service providers for help,” she said.
“Patients are turning up only to be turned away or made to wait for hours.”
A leaked recording from a Queensland Health director revealed by The Courier-Mail more than a year ago also revealed concerns inside the department over the naming of the site, with the unnamed director telling staff she had fought against using the label.
The state government has faced repeated questions over naming the medical sites satellite hospitals, despite the clinics having no beds, emergency departments, closing at 10pm and being staffed mostly by nurses.
Pressed on the fact it was the name – not the services – that were being questioned, Mr Dick said: “That’s what they are. They deliver hospital care. What these hospitals do is provide care to the community. That’s 25,000 people who have been treated in satellite hospitals who would have otherwise gone to an emergency department.”