Happy days: Premier tours new hospital in pre-budget health blitz
A Queensland bayside hospital with record ambulance ramping figures has been given a boost with the completion of a satellite facility.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk toured the Redlands Satellite Hospital on Monday as part of a healthcare blitz with newly appointed health minister Shannon Fentiman ahead of the state budget on June 13.
The state government also unveiled upgrades to the existing Redland Hospital with a new mental health facility with double the beds, and land freed up for further expansion.
The government hopes the new $43.8m hospital will ease ramping issues by treating minor injuries, and with renal dialysis and chemotherapy treatment.
Health data for January-March shows a sharp ambulance ramping increase at Redland, from 50 to 63 per cent, as almost two in three patients wait longer than recommended for hospital treatment.
āWe know that our emergency departments are facing pressures ā this is not just a state issue, itās a national issue,ā the premier told reporters on Monday.
āBy having these kinds of facilities, this satellite hospital in the region will allow more people to come here which will ease the burden off the emergency department.ā
The new facility will have the capacity to treat 490 walk-in patients a week, withĀ 144 renal dialysis treatments,Ā 90 chemotherapy treatments andĀ 280 outpatient appointments.
The facility also boasts medical imaging and diagnostic services including ultrasound, X-ray and pathology.
āThe Minor Injury and Illness Clinic will offer free walk-in care for common, non-urgent conditions like simple fractures, infections and allergies, sprains, strains and burns,ā Fentiman said.
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āThis service will take a lot of pressure off our busy emergency departments and major hospitals.ā
Liberal National leader David Crisafulli said Redland Hospital was the only metropolitan Queensland Health hospital without an intensive care unit.
āThe latest data is deeply concerning because it highlights that when a Redlands resident arrives at the hospital in an ambulance, almost two in three wait longer than recommended,ā Crisafulli said.
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