Jane Hancock, Chief Operating Officer
One of the responsibilities I have in my very diverse and enjoyable portfolio as the Chief Operating Officer is the Satellite Hospitals Project. There are seven satellite hospitals in the program and Metro North has responsibility for commissioning and operating three of these: Caboolture, Kallangur, and Bribie Island.
The objective of the satellite hospitals is to alleviate capacity issues at the major hospitals and provide free services that meet the needs of each local community, closer to home. The satellite hospitals are being built in major growth areas to allow people to access non-urgent healthcare services in a purpose-built community setting, reducing the need to travel to a hospital emergency department.
The Satellite Hospital Project team and clinical teams are working well together, and I saw firsthand the Caboolture facility when I visited late last week. Excitingly, this project remains on track to open in August 2023.
The Caboolture Satellite Hospital located on Rowe Street, adjacent to the Caboolture train station, includes a Minor Injury and Illness Centre, sleep studies clinic, oral health services, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Hub, and mental health services.
Today, this facility will be handed over to Metro North and the important transitional phase to operational commissioning will commence. The commissioning activities will include familiarisation with safety, security, and communications systems as well as undertaking exercises and scenarios to test the facility’s capabilities and functions.
All satellite hospitals will include a Minor Injury and Illness Clinic (MIIC) with medical imaging and diagnostic services. They will open seven days a week from 7:00am to 11:00pm, accepting patients from 8:00am to 10:00pm.
The MIICs will provide walk-in urgent care for common injuries and illnesses, such as strains and sprains, broken bones, minor head injuries, infections and rashes, minor eye issues, minor cuts and burns, tooth ache and earache, and fever.
Other services provided include:
- Sleep studies clinic at Caboolture
- Oral health services at Caboolture and Kallangur
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Hubs at Caboolture, Bribie Island and Kallangur
- Appointments with mental health specialists at Caboolture and Bribie Island
- Renal dialysis chairs at Bribie Island and Kallangur
- Day medical chairs at Bribie Island (which provide services such as infusions of iron, pharmacological agents, antibodies and steroids for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, immune deficiencies, and infections).
Each satellite hospital will provide free car parking for patients and staff, as well as end-of-trip facilities for staff including showers, change rooms and secure bike lockers. Recruitment for the various clinical and operational positions has commenced.
The Kallangur Satellite Hospital on Dohles Rocks Road is expected to open in late 2023 and the Bribie Island Satellite Hospital on First Avenue is expected to open in mid-2024.
Thank you to the high-performing members of the Satellite Hospitals Project and clinical teams who are helping to deliver these important new services.
More information about the Satellite Hospital Program is available on the Queensland Government website.
Executive Update
I also wanted to let you know that STARS Executive Director Helen Boocock will be finishing up with Metro North on 31 May. Helen has accepted a position in the Department of Health, as Senior Director, Workforce Strategy commencing next month.
Helen joined Metro North from the Brisbane North PHN to become acting ED STARS in August 2021 before being appointed to the role last year. During her tenure, Helen has overseen STARS through several service model changes due to the pandemic response.
Since the pandemic Helen has led her team to work with other Metro North facilities and services to reduce the surgical and outpatient waiting lists. STARS under Helen’s leadership has been committed to the health equity agenda, and has championed the research and work around intradisciplinary teams.
I would like to thank Helen for her contribution to her work in Metro North and to the support she has afforded me and executive colleagues. I know you will join with me in wishing her every success in her new role.
We welcome Dale Daly-Watkins as the Acting Executive Director STARS until 6 June when she commences leave. We will be seeking to recruit this role in the new financial year.
I will advise of who will act in the interim.
Thankyou
Finally, a big thank you for all your work that you continue to do to meet the needs of our communities – your response to reducing the time people need to wait for elective surgery and specialist outpatients has been fantastic and your willingness to work overtime and on weekends has been greatly appreciated. I do not underestimate how much effort and focus this has required.
Always keen to hear your feedback, so please email me if you have any questions in relation to my advice to you at MNHHS_COO@health.qld.gov.au.
Warm regards,
Jane.