News
14 February, 2025
Satellite Hospitals across SEQ now under new name
Queensland's ‘Satellite Hospitals’ will be renamed Satellite Health Centres, hoping to put an end to confusion created by the former name.
As identified in the Queensland Audit Office 2024 Health Report, more than 3,500 patients with life-threatening conditions put themselves at risk by presenting to satellite hospitals last year, where they could not be treated.
The Renaming Satellite Hospitals survey received submissions from 2,780 people – including frontline clinicians and primary care providers – who had their say on a more appropriate name for the facilities. The results of the survey strongly recommended calling the facilities Satellite Health Centres, which was recently supported by the clinical advisory group established to consider the survey results.
The clinical advisory group was made up of representatives from the seven facilities at Caboolture, Redlands, Ripley, Tugun, Kallangur, Eight Mile Plains, and Bribie Island.
Member for Pumicestone, Ariana Doolan, welcomed the change, saying it was a necessary step to ensure residents clearly understood the services available at Bribie Island’s facility.
“This is about making sure our community has access to the right healthcare, in the right place, at the right time,” Ms Doolan said.
“Our Bribie Island Satellite Health Centre will continue to offer essential same-day, walk-in services for minor injuries and outpatient care, but this new name makes it clear what people can expect.”
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said patients’ lives had been left at risk due to the misleading name for the health facilities.
“These facilities were designed to provide their communities with same-day walk-in, walk-out services for minor injuries and outpatient care like dialysis,” he said.
“We have listened to the experts and will adopt the recommended name of Satellite Health Centres.
“I want to assure the community these centres will continue to deliver excellent minor injury and illness care and outpatient services from our dedicated nurses, medical officers, and allied health professionals.
“This process was about continuing to deliver vital healthcare services while ensuring the community’s and clinicians’ voices were heard and health facilities were appropriately named.”
