Paediatric emergency beds open at Ipswich Hospital

Ipswich Hospital has opened a four-bed paediatric emergency room to provide a dedicated treatment and waiting area for sick or injured children and their families.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick said the West Moreton Hospital and Health Service’s new paediatric emergency room was part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $5 million Clinical Decision Unit at Ipswich Hospital.

Mr Dick said the paediatric emergency room is a child-friendly space which also features a private treatment area, family waiting space and children’s quiet play area, bright curtains and colourful cartoon decorations.

“There is no doubt there is a high demand for paediatric services at Ipswich Hospital – on average almost 40 children have accessed the paediatric emergency room each day since it opened,” Mr Dick said.

Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard said the new room would offer families a more private and secure waiting area.

“When parents come to the Emergency Department they will be directed through a set of doors to a separate, child-friendly waiting area with its own procedure room and toilet facilities,” Ms Howard said.

Member for Ipswich Jim Madden said patients, their families and friends would all agree that the Palaszczuk Government’s investment in their healthcare is paying dividends.

“The paediatric emergency room will provide a more age-appropriate space for families seeking emergency medical help for their children,” Mr Madden said.

Ipswich Hospital Emergency Department Director Dr Cade Grima said the new facility would operate in conjunction with the existing Emergency Department and other recent initiatives such as the Clinical Decision Unit to improve patient flow and experience.

“We know the Emergency Department is not the kind of place a child ordinarily wants to go but for those who require urgent medical attention, we want to make sure we can offer children the most inviting space possible in a clinical environment, as well as top medical care,” Dr Grima said.

“It does not mean we can now accept children presenting with a more broad scale of health concerns – the emergency paediatric room remains a place to attend in the event of an emergency only.

“As always, we ask the West Moreton community to remember to keep the Emergency Department for emergencies and let us dedicate our resources to the people that need it the most.’’

ENDS

Media contact: Catherine Palmer, 0424 823 424