900 NSW Patients A Week: MP

Deputy Premier and Health Minister Dr Steven Miles

September 4, 2020

More than 900 patients from NSW have been treated in Queensland hospitals every week during the pandemic.

Health Minister Dr Steven Miles said on Friday that although border restrictions have been in place in some way since March, Queensland has always allowed interstate residents to enter the State for medical care.

“The Hospital and Health Services closest to the NSW border – Gold Coast, Metro North, Metro South, Children’s Health Queensland, West Moreton and Darling Downs – treated more than 9700 interstate residents in the last two months as inpatients, outpatients or emergency patients,” Dr Miles said.

And 75 per cent of these were NSW residents.

“That’s more than 900 NSW patients treated in our hospitals each week,” he said.

A “COVID-19 Healthcare Support Service” was launched by the State Government on Friday to assist interstate residents.

He said the dedicated unit for people needing to access essential healthcare in Queensland could be contacted by calling a hotline.

The new team would also provide a case-managed approach to people entering mandatory quarantine who have complex healthcare needs.

“It is critical to remember that those requiring medical care do not need, and have never needed, to apply for an exemption to cross the border, but may have different quarantine requirements,” Dr Miles said.

“The Healthcare Support Service ensures everyone who is suitable for medical care, further support, needs an exemption, or is looking for the right information, gets access to what they need at the right time.”

Dr Miles said anyone can enter Queensland by road, rail or air for emergency healthcare without an exemption.

People can also continue to receive essential healthcare in Queensland where they either have an ongoing relationship with a healthcare provider or if the healthcare cannot be provided close to their home.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said nurses, doctors, social workers, paramedics and representatives from other key State Government departments were part of the new service.

“We know the situations in which people apply for these exemptions can be deeply personal and we want to make sure we have the right people in place to support the applicant,” Dr Young said.

“I have set the rules for how exemptions are assessed and every exemption request relating to medical needs will be assessed by a clinician.

“The Healthcare Support Service will help to speed up the assessment process and people going through the exemption process with medical needs can be assured that their request is being assessed by a team of experts.

“We’re very aware of how hard the quarantine process can be for those who do not get granted an exemption. That’s why we also have a pilot program in place to make quarantine easier for people with existing medical needs and disabilities and those caring for very young children.”

As part of the new Targeted Care Accommodation Program, selected hotels or alternative accommodation will have additional health and social support on site or close by for specific groups of individuals during their 14-day COVID-19 quarantine period.

Stage 1 of the program is being conducted on those in quarantine and currently COVID-19 negative, by Metro South Hospital and Health Service in conjunction with Queensland Police Service.

Those who may be suitable for the additional support will be identified by various State Government and community services teams – this process will be further strengthened by the new Healthcare Support Service.

The Healthcare Support Service can be contacted by calling 134-COVID (13-42-68).

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There were zero new cases of COVID-19 reported in Queensland on Friday after another 13,778 tests during the past 24 hours.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said this was excellent news.

“The hard work of everybody has got us to this point,” she said. “A big thank you to everybody who has gone out there and been tested.”

There are currently 25 active cases in Queensland with 15 patients in hospital.

Premier Palaszczuk also confirmed that Moree would be added to the border “bubble”.

This will assist boarding school students as well as Mungindi residents after the recent CBD fire.

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Contact Tracing Alerts

Queensland Health released an updated list on Friday evening.

Anyone who has been to any of these locations at these times should monitor their health and, if they develop even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms, get tested.

21 August – Fig Tree Pocket Early Childhood Centre – morning to evening
21 August – Woolworths, Forest Lake Shopping Centre – 10:30am-10:45am
21 August – The Chop Shop Butcher, Forest Lake Shopping Centre – 10:45am-11:15am
21 August – Best & Less, Forest Lake Shopping Centre – 10:45am-11:15am
21 August – The Orion Nail Bar, Springfield – 4:15pm-5:00pm
21 August – Sia’s Takeaway, Kingston Rd, Slacks Creek – 11:30am-11:45am
21 August – Logan Motorway BP Centre & McDonald’s, Larapinta – 7:00am to unknown
21 August – Coles Express, Pimpama City Centre – 9:00pm to unknown
21 August – Southern Bay Cyclones rugby game (Cyclones v Logan Saints) – 8:00pm-10:00pm
21 August – Graceville Netball Courts & Canteen, Faulkner Park, Graceville – 8:00am-10:15am
22 August – The Pet Barn, Browns Plains – 10:30am-10:45am
22 August – Bunnings, Browns Plains – 10:45am-11:15am
22 August – The Good Guys, Browns Plains – 11:15am-11:35am
22 August – United Service Station, Pimpama – 4:00pm-4:20pm
22 August – McDonald’s, Pimpama – 8:30am-9:30am
22 August – Bunnings, Oxenford – Noon to 12:05pm
22 August – Coles, Pimpama City – 1:00pm-2:00pm
22 August – Graceville Netball Courts & Canteen, Faulkner Park, Graceville – 8:00am-4:00pm
22 August – Kmart, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre – 3:15pm-4:45pm
23 August – Coles, Forest Lake Shopping Centre – 5:00pm-5:15pm
23 August – Coles, Pimpama City – 4:10pm-4:20pm
23 August – IGA, Coomera – 2:10pm-2:20pm
23 August – Coles, Pimpama City – 4:05pm-4:20pm
24 August – The Good Guys, Oxley – 9:00am-9:45am
24 August – Woolworths, The Station, Oxley – 10:00am-10:30am
24 August – Perks Cafe, Jimboomba Central Shopping Centre – 10:00am-10:45am
24 August – Woolworths, Jimboomba Central Shopping Centre – 11:00am-11:15am
24 August – Logan Motorway BP Centre & McDonald’s, Larapinta – 4:20pm-4:30pm
24 August – Coomera Westfield, Coomera Town Centre – 5:30pm-6:00pm
25 August – Logan Motorway BP Centre & McDonald’s, Larapinta – 6:40am-6:45am
25 August – Logan Motorway BP Centre & McDonald’s, Larapinta – 4:20pm-4:30pm
26 August – Coomera Westfield, Coomera Town Centre – 9:30am-10:25am
26 August – Woolworths, Pimpama Junction – 10:40am-10:50am
26 August – Kmart, Oxenford – 11:00am-11:10am
26 August – Bunnings, Oxenford – 11:20am-11:50am
26 August – Woolworths, Pimpama Junction – noon to 12:15pm
26 August – Zazar’s Kebabs, Pimpama – 12:15pm-12:25pm
26 August – Madhouse Discount Variety, Waterford Plaza, Waterford West – 1:50pm-2:15pm
26 August – Hyperdome Shopping Centre, Loganholme – 3:15pm-5:45pm
26 August – Best & Less, Logan Hyperdome – 3:15pm-4:05pm
26 August – KMart, Logan Hyperdome – 4:05pm-4:30pm
26 August – The Reject Shop, Logan Hyperdome – 4:35pm-4:55pm
26 August – Foot Locker, Logan Hyperdome – 5:00pm-5:30pm
26 August – Platypus Shoes, Logan Hyperdome – 5:00pm-5:30pm
26 August – Logan Motorway BP Centre & McDonald’s, Larapinta – 5:45pm-5:50pm
26 August – Gold Coast University Hospital fever clinic, Southport – 7:00pm-7:20pm
26 August – Pub Lane Tavern, Greenbank Shopping Centre – 7:30pm-9:30pm
27 August – Princess Alexandra Hospital fever clinic, Woolloongabba – 12:40pm-12:55pm
27 August – PriceLine Pharmacy, Forest Lake – 9:00am-9:10am
27 August – Coles, Forest Lake Shopping Centre – 9:15am-9:30am
27 August – Pizza Hut, Beenleigh – 4:30pm-4:35pm
27 August – TSG Tobacconist, Eagleby – 4:50pm-5:00pm
29 August – Johnny Furniture, Booval – 9:30am-10:00am
29 August – Spotlight, West Ipswich – 10:00am-10:20am
29 August – Fantastic Furniture, West Ipswich – 11:00am-11:10am
29 August – Spa Choice, Pacific Highway, Springwood – 10:30am-11:00am
29 August – Spa World, Compton Road, Underwood – 11:00am-11:30am
29 August – Dosa Hut, Springfield – 11:55am-noon
29 August – Indian Spice Shop, Springfield – noon-12:05pm
30 August – Woolworths, Yamanto – noon-12:20pm
30 August – Domino’s, Yamanto – 11:45am-12;30pm
31 August – Woolworths, Yamanto – 11:00am-11:15am
31 August – Country Market, Yamanto – 11:20am-11:40am
31 August – Priceline, Yamanto – 11:40am-11:45am