Ripley’s new satellite hospital has flown off the marks as patients have flooded in after it opened for business. Its minor injury and illness clinic saw nearly 2,700 people in its first six weeks. Its busiest day saw 79 people turn up for treatment.
This has relieved pressure on Ipswich Hospital’s Emergency Department, with about 10 fewer presentations every day. Indeed, the satellite saw more low-acuity patients than the ED at Ipswich.
And the long waits we sometimes associate with emergency departments don’t happen at the satellite hospital with patients cared for and on their way home within about 90 minutes on average.
West Moreton Health clinical director prevention Dr Mei-Ching “Meech” Freeman was delighted with how things had begun.
She said, “We have received excellent feedback from the community about our facility and our team of clinicians. ”
State health minister Shannon Fentiman said, “This early data shows extremely positive signs our Satellite Hospitals are doing exactly what they are intended to do.”
