Queensland's Satellite Hospital Program has expanded, with the official opening of the Kallangur Satellite Hospital.

It is said to be the fifth such hospital in the state, joining facilities in Tugun, Caboolture, Ripley, and Redlands.

The programme, part of a A$377m ($249.5m) initiative, aims to provide free healthcare services closer to home, preventing unnecessary visits to general practitioners or emergency departments.

Set to be operational from 11 December, the Kallangur facility is the first Satellite hospital to offer kidney dialysis and a rehabilitation gym.

In a statement, the Queensland Government said that the Satellite Hospitals have saved Queensland families over A$1m in out-of-pocket expenses, with more than 28,000 residents benefiting from the programme.

This programme is set to expand further, with two more Satellite Hospitals at Bribie Island and Eight Mile Plains scheduled to open in 2024.

The Kallangur Satellite Hospital includes a minor illness and injury clinic, a kidney dialysis unit, and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health hub.

Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman said: “It’s exciting to not only be opening the fifth of seven Satellite Hospitals in our A$377m Satellite Hospital Program, but to acknowledge that this is the fifth Satellite Hospital we’ve opened in the past five months.

“We know that our Satellite Hospitals in Caboolture, Ripley, Redlands, and Tugun are already doing a wonderful job of taking pressure off our emergency departments.

“I’m thrilled The Prince Charles Hospital will soon experience the same.

“Queenslanders deserve the best healthcare, no matter where the live, and the new Kallangur Satellite Hospital will ensure they receive the right care, at the right time, and closer to home.

“The in-house renal dialysis and oral health services, as well as the new Minor Injury and Illness Clinic are a game changer for the community, reducing travel time and providing more options for families to access our world-class healthcare.

“I am proud to be part of a government that is delivering the infrastructure we need to deliver vital healthcare services closer to home for Queenslanders.”