Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
The Meadowbrook Health Centre promised during the 2019 federal election and fully funded by the Albanese Labor Government is now open to patients.
It will provide better healthcare, quicker and closer to home for thousands of people.
The Albanese Government has officially handed over the $33.4 million centre to be operated by Queensland Health.
Federal Minister for Health Mark Butler said the centre will provide care to the Logan community from today and into the future.
“The Albanese Government’s $33.4 million investment builds on our reforms to strengthen Medicare and ensure people get the care they need, where they need it,” he said.
“This centre will keep locals out of busy hospital emergency departments.”
Located opposite the Logan Hospital, the centre includes a minor injury and illness clinic which is open now, enabling residents to access vital non‑life‑threatening care without needing to go to the hospital emergency department.
This new centre will work as part of an established urgent care service network with the Logan Medicare Urgent Care Clinic also operating nearby.
Federal Treasurer and Member for Rankin Jim Chalmers said along with a minor injury and illness clinic, the centre included a women’s health outpatient centre providing gynaecology and antenatal services which would open soon.
“This is a gamechanger for our local area,” he said.
“This new centre will ease pressure on the emergency department at Logan Hospital and it will give our community easier access to quality care.
“It means better healthcare, quicker and closer to home for thousands of people in our community.”
Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the opening of the Meadowbrook Health Centre and the new Minor Injury and Illness Clinic was a valuable addition to the Logan community.
“We are doing all we can to take the load off our busy EDs and this new clinic is vital in ensuring patients who don’t need to be in emergency can get the medical care they need in a timely fashion,” Minister Nicholls said.
“These facilities are designed to provide members of the community with same day walk‑in, walk‑out care and services for non‑life‑threatening conditions.”
The Crisafulli Government will ensure ongoing delivery of services at the centre through continual funding.
Member for Forde Rowan Holzberger said he was pleased to see this investment from the Albanese Labor Government delivering real benefits for his community through this new health centre.
“My priority is delivering for our local community and the new health centre is a great example of how we are responding to the needs of the community,” he said.
“The new health centre at Meadowbrook will ease the pressure on nearby health facilities, which are already operating at capacity, as well as provide local families with the reassurance they deserve to know they can get treatment for their loved ones when and as they need it.”
Metro South Health Chief Executive Noelle Cridland said the Meadowbrook Health Centre would support and work in collaboration with Logan Hospital.
She said Metro South Health was proud to provide another modern, accessible, convenient facility designed to provide better access to care, including women’s health services previously located at Logan Hospital.
“We have already seen an amazing response from people attending the Satellite Health Centre’s at Eight Mile Plains and Redlands, so I’m thrilled that Logan residents will have the same opportunity to access free, high‑quality care locally in this rapidly growing community,” Ms Cridland said.
Meadowbrook Health Centre Facility Manager Tracey McTigue said patients could walk in at any time during opening hours to access care in the Minor Injury and Illness Clinic.
“The Minor Injuries and Illness Clinic on the ground floor will be open from 8am to 10pm daily to treat simple fractures, sprains and strains, fevers and coughs, head injuries without loss of consciousness, and a range of other non‑life‑threatening conditions,” Ms McTigue said.
