SENIOR DOCTOR TO DRIVE NEW CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL PROJECT

A senior doctor has been appointed to progress the Beattie Government’s election commitment to build a new state-of-the-art Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Premier Peter Beattie and Health Minister Stephen Robertson announced today that Professor Alan Isles had agreed to become Clinical CEO of the Queensland Children’s Hospital development.

A draft Implementation Plan for the $700 million project is currently being prepared by Queensland Health and a steering committee with broad based membership will meet for the first time in early October.

The steering committee will:

·provide strategic direction in the establishment of the Queensland Children’s Hospital, as a Queensland Health facility, built on the Mater Hospital campus;

·oversee the full implementation of the recommendations made in the Report of the Taskforce on Paediatric Cardiac Services;

·undertake further consultation with key stakeholders, particularly parents and families, and keep the wider community informed of progress in the establishment of the new hospital.

“Building a new children’s hospital of up to 400 beds adjacent to Mater Mothers and Mater Adults Hospitals was one of the key health commitments I took to the election,” Mr Beattie said.

“I also promised a re-elected Beattie Government would appoint a senior clinician within the first 100 days to progress this important project.

“We’ve delivered and I’m delighted Professor Alan Isles has agreed to become Clinical CEO of the project,” he said.

Mr Robertson said Professor Isles is a leading Queensland paediatric specialist who until now was District Manager of the Royal Children's Hospital and District Health Service. He was also a member of the Taskforce that recommended the new children’s hospital.

“Like me, Professor Isles is passionate about improving tertiary paediatric health services for children in Queensland.

“He also has the clinical qualifications and experience to drive this important health initiative.”

Mr Robertson said Professor Isles would lead the consultation, planning and development processes of the project.

“Over the next five years, he will work closely with parents, children, clinicians, hospital foundations and other staff - and their unions - at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Mater Children’s Hospital and The Prince Charles Hospital.

“He will bring together the ideas and aspirations of clinicians, parents, children and adolescents to ensure we have a new hospital that delivers world class care for Queensland children.

“Under his leadership, a new culture will be developed that will integrate paediatric services at the three hospitals and ensure a smooth transition of those services to the new Queensland Children’s Hospital.”

Mr Robertson said the transition plan includes:

• At a cost of $24.5 million, over four years from this financial year, specialist and support staffing will be increased for paediatric cardiac services.

• In 2008, these staff and services will move to expanded facilities at the Mater Children’s Hospital;

• A $28.6 million upgrade of facilities at the Mater Children’s Hospital will be undertaken to cater for the transfer of services from the Prince Charles;

• The retention of the Children’s Emergency Department on Brisbane’s north side.

Mr Robertson said the Queensland Children’s Hospital will be opened in stages from 2011, making it potentially the largest children’s hospital in Australia, when it is completed in 2014.

While children’s cardiac services will be moved from the Prince Charles to the Mater Children’s Hospital in early 2008, no other services being offered at either the Royal Children’s or Mater Children’s will be affected until 2011 at the earliest.

A public website and a staff internet will be established to keep the community and Queensland Health staff fully informed of all developments.

MEDIA: Paul Lynch 3234 1190 or 0417 728 676