Joyce Palmer Health Service (Palm Island)
Joyce Palmer Health Services - Beach Road, PALM ISLAND Q. 4816
Tel: (within Australia) 07 4752 5100 (International) 61 7 4752 5291
The Joyce Palmer Health Service provides an integrated health service to approximately 3000 Palm Island people.
The facility is named after Joyce Palmer, a well known Island health worker, who commenced her work back in the late 1940's at the Island's old grass hospital. Joyce provided health care to the people of Palm Island for over 40 years until she retired in 1984 due to ill health.
Palm Island Hospital consists of emergency department and a 15-bed general ward and provides a primary level of acute care services. These include: an emergency services component which manages resuscitation and stabilisation prior to referral to the secondary or tertiary hospital; general management of medical and aged patients; minor surgical procedures; outpatient clinics; basic radiography; pathology sample collection; and obstetric management for low risk mothers expecting their second or third child, with referral arrangements for all other categories. A number of visiting specialists conduct regular clinics with the facility.
Completed in May 2000 the new building houses the Hospital, Community health, X-Ray, Queensland Ambulance, Pharmacy, Dentist, Child Health, Mental Health, Sexual Health, Antenatal program and many Specialist Clinics. Specialist clinics include ENT, Gynaecologist, Medical, Ophthalmologist, Paediatrician, Phychiatrist, Child and Youth Psychiatrist, School Dentist and Sexual health Specialist. Allied Health clinics include Physiotherapy, Audiologist, Paediatric Assessment Team, Podiatrist, Diabetes, Optometry, Mammography, Sonographer, Renal Nurse, and Nutritionist.
Two Doctors work full time and are on call for emergencies after hours. The hospital cares for all non-critically ill patients, including antenates, neonates, children, adults and aged care. Critical patients are stabilised and transferred to The Townsville Hospital by Royal Flying Doctors Service or the Air Sea Rescue with a retrieval team.
Construction has commenced for a four chair Dialysis Unit, and minor operations theatre which should be completed mid 2002.
About Palm Island
Palm Island is a tropical island situated 70 km north of Townsville - off the coast near Ingham. Palm Island is an Aboriginal Community with population of approximately 3000. The Joyce Palmer Health Service is located on the Western side Palm Island some fifty metres from the beach. Palm Island is surrounded by thirteen smaller islands, and is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Activities include swimming, fishing, boating and walking.
Related Links
- Aged Care Assessment Team
- Blue Care
- Community Health Services
- ECCLI
- HACC
- Home Modifications (including Lawn mowing) - Townsville City Council
- Ingham Health Services
- Magnetic Island Health Service Centre
- Medical Aids support Services
- North and West Queensland Primary Health Care
- St Luke's Nursing Service
- The Townsville Hospital – Allied Health Departments
- Townsville Division of General Practice
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