Latest hospital data provides an early indication that Ripley Satellite Hospital is supporting a reduction in the number of less urgent patients presenting to the Ipswich Hospital Emergency Department (ED).
While critically ill presentations at all West Moreton emergency departments continued to climb in the September quarter, Ipswich Hospital saw a 10 per cent reduction in the two least-urgent categories of presentation.
This is in part due to the opening of an ED alternative for minor injury and illness at Ripley Satellite Hospital in late August 2023.
The Minor Injury and Illness Clinic at the new Ripley Satellite Hospital provides Ipswich residents with an alternative to ED for non-life-threatening conditions such as simple fractures and infections.
Since opening, the Ripley clinic has welcomed a steady increase in patients and now cares for up to 70 consumers a day.
However, the number of critical presentations is continuing to rise year on year in West Moreton.
Hospital emergency departments at Ipswich, Boonah, Esk, Gatton and Laidley saw presentations of category 1 and 2 presentations increase by 7 and 14 per cent respectively, year on year, in the September quarter.
Category 1 patients are those experiencing life-threatening conditions such as critical injury or cardiac arrest. Those triaged as category 2 are presenting with imminently life-threatening illness or injury such as stroke or epileptic seizure.
Overall presentations to West Moreton Health emergency departments increased 4 per cent (or 1081 presentations) year on year to a total 25,710 presentations.
At Ipswich Hospital, 19,465 people presented to the emergency department; an increase of 1 per cent. The median wait time at Ipswich Hospital across all five categories was 20 minutes.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman:
“Our public health system performed exceptionally well in the last quarter, thanks to our incredible hospital and ambulance staff.
“A record number of Queenslanders received the surgery they need – with more surgeries performed than any other time in Queensland’s history.
“I’m thrilled to see some improvements in the West Moreton region, with figures showing Ripley Satellite Hospital is already having a positive effect, and we know there’s still more we can do.
“I can assure Queenslanders that our $764 million Putting Patients First plan to keep Queenslanders out of hospital is bolstering our frontline health workforce and strengthening the Queensland Ambulance Service.
“It is delivering more beds and delivering the major hospital upgrades and expansions we need to provide the best health-care possible.
“This quarter saw the opening of the new $43.8 Redlands Satellite Hospital which is already working to meet the needs of the Redlands Coast community.
“The Palaszczuk Government is making the necessary investments to provide quality healthcare closer to home, for all Queenslanders.”
Please attribute to West Moreton Health Acting Chief Executive Dominic Tait:
“It is clear to see the emergency department diversion strategies put in place in the community are working,” he said.
“There is more work to be done, however, we expect to see continued improvements as further services come online in our communities.”