Evaluation of Queensland's satellite hospitals
Queensland Health has been communicating their plans to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of satellite hospitals with AMA Queensland, inviting us to participate in the consultation.
Queensland Health to AMA Queensland, Friday 10 January 2025
Queensland Health will be conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the satellite hospitals, with a specific focus on minor injury and illness clinics.
The evaluation is being led by the Department of Health’s System Planning Branch, supported by an independent consultant which AMA Queensland has been invited to be a part of.
The evaluation will be structured around several key objectives:
- review of service models
- workforce capacity and development
- holistic workplace and security risk assessment
- funding model evaluation.
Consultation will commence in the first part of 2025.
Staff may be invited to participate in interviews, focus groups, or surveys as part of this evaluation process. Staff insights and feedback will be critical in identifying service model opportunities and areas for improvement.
Read the letter from Queensland Health
AMA Queensland to Queensland Health, Wednesday 22 January 2025
We responded to Queensland Health's letter inviting us to participate in the consultation, highlighting our members' concerns and providing recommendations for the evaluation.
AMA Queensland has consistently advocated for all health investments to be evidence-based and cost-effective, so we keep patients safe and not waste precious health resources.
We also urged the Department to codesign its satellite hospitals with local general practices and other health providers to mitigate the risk of confusing patients, poaching staff, duplicating services and fragmenting care.
We recommend that Queensland Health ensures that the evaluation provides meaningful results that can be used to improve satellite hospitals, so they result in real benefits for our community. We offer to work with the Department to achieve that aim and can meet to discuss further.
Read our letter to Queensland Health
Queensland Health to AMA Queensland, Thursday 20 February 2025
Queensland Health has committed to ensuring their facilities meet the highest standards of service, are efficient and meet patient needs.
The Department of Health will conduct an internal evaluation of satellite health centres and are currently preparing the details of the scope of this evaluation which will be shared with AMA Queensland once drafted, welcoming our feedback.
