First patient Etuate MoiMoi at Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital
The new Satellite Hospital at Eight Mile Plains is already making a difference with hundreds of local residents receiving care in its first two weeks of operation.
Runcorn resident Etuate MoiMoi (Eddie) made history as the first patient to be treated at the Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital, Maroo-goodji-ba, when it opened on 27 May.
Eddie, who previously had to visit Logan Hospital three times a week, said he now enjoyed the convenience of accessing specialist outpatient treatment just five minutes from his home.
Nursing Director and Facility Manager Tracey McTigue said like Eddie, hundreds of community members were saving time and reducing stress by receiving healthcare closer to home.
“Since opening day, we’ve had a steady stream of patients. Close to 400 local adults and children have already received care through the Minor Injury and Illness Clinic,” Tracey said.
“We’ve also had more than 100 patients attend for kidney dialysis and cancer treatments.
“Patients have been so thankful for the convenient location and consistently praised the high-quality care they received from our caring staff.”
Tracey applauded the hospital staff, noting their high performance, compassion, and the ‘huge smiles’ they bring to work each day.
“Our team is incredibly proud to meet the needs of this deserving community,” she said.
The $65.4 million Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital is the latest facility to be delivered by the Queensland Government as part of its nation-leading satellite hospitals program.
Its Minor Injury and Illness Clinic is now open from 8am to 10pm, every day of the year, to treat simple fractures, sprains and strains, fevers and coughs, and a range of other non-life-threatening conditions.
The new facility is designed to support nearby emergency departments by diagnosing and treating non-life-threatening conditions.
It also offers a range of appointment-based specialist and outpatient services including a Cancer Day Therapy Unit and Kidney Dialysis Unit.
More than 100 health care workers have been recruited to staff Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital including doctors, nurses, administration officers, allied health practitioners and operational staff.