Published Thursday, 19 April, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
YOUNG PATIENTS TO INFORM CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL PLANNING
Past and present patients of Queensland’s children’s hospitals will form a special planning group to help shape the new $700 million Queensland Children’s Hospital, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
Mr Robertson told State Parliament the Beattie Government was looking for 15 individuals aged 12 to 18 years who are current patients, siblings or previous patients of any of the three paediatric hospitals.
“The young Queenslanders will form a special Youth Advisory Forum to explore ways to make the new hospital’s entertainment facilities, ward layout and built environment surrounding the hospital more comforting and stimulating places for its patients,” Mr Robertson said.
“The group is likely to hold blogs and chat forums for young people in regional areas, organise specific activities and also lead focus group discussions to provide direct input to the project team.”
Mr Robertson tabled in Parliament a document – Talking and Planning Together – outlining the State Government’s approach to community consultation for the new hospital.
“We will consult widely with families and young people about their hopes and aspirations for the new hospital,” he said.
“In addition to a Youth Forum, a Family Advisory Council is also being formed and will meet in the coming weeks.”
Mr Robertson said work was well underway on the hospital which will be built on the Mater Hospitals site at South Brisbane.
“The first phase, involving improved paediatric cardiac services at the Prince Charles, is almost complete with 20 of the 25 additional specialist, nursing and allied health positions now filled at the hospital,” he said.
“The second phase will see these clinicians relocate to the Mater Children’s Hospital by this time next year as part of the staged merger of all paediatric services into one single hospital.
“Later this year, the Mater Children’s oncology services will relocate to the Royal Children’s at Herston to facilitate the cardiac transfer and joint planning for the new hospital.”
Mr Robertson said phase three, involving the actual development of the new hospital, was progressing extremely well.
“Careful planning has been underway to ensure the Queensland Children’s Hospital will be the most advanced paediatric hospital in Australia,” he said.
“Nearly 50 planning groups are engaged in identifying best practice models which will culminate in the hospital’s Health Services Plan later this year.
“This planning process is symbolically important as it represents the first step in the staff from all three hospitals involved coming together.
“There is strong support from clinicians as evidenced by their becoming actively involved in the planning process. We recognise that this close engagement with clinicians is critical to the success of the project.
“We are also actively engaging with other key stakeholders including the hospital Foundations, our University partners, our union partners and patient support groups.”
Mr Robertson said among many other ways people could obtain information and to have their say on the project was the new Queensland Children’s Hospital web-site - www.health.qld.gov.au/childrenshospital.
“The Queensland Children’s Hospital project is an exciting opportunity to build a statewide paediatric service of international significance and I encourage the community to become involved and help shape what we build,” he said.
Application forms for the Family Advisory Council and the Youth Advisory Forum are available at www.health.qld.gov.au/childrenshospital or (07) 3636 5502.
19 April, 2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185
Mr Robertson told State Parliament the Beattie Government was looking for 15 individuals aged 12 to 18 years who are current patients, siblings or previous patients of any of the three paediatric hospitals.
“The young Queenslanders will form a special Youth Advisory Forum to explore ways to make the new hospital’s entertainment facilities, ward layout and built environment surrounding the hospital more comforting and stimulating places for its patients,” Mr Robertson said.
“The group is likely to hold blogs and chat forums for young people in regional areas, organise specific activities and also lead focus group discussions to provide direct input to the project team.”
Mr Robertson tabled in Parliament a document – Talking and Planning Together – outlining the State Government’s approach to community consultation for the new hospital.
“We will consult widely with families and young people about their hopes and aspirations for the new hospital,” he said.
“In addition to a Youth Forum, a Family Advisory Council is also being formed and will meet in the coming weeks.”
Mr Robertson said work was well underway on the hospital which will be built on the Mater Hospitals site at South Brisbane.
“The first phase, involving improved paediatric cardiac services at the Prince Charles, is almost complete with 20 of the 25 additional specialist, nursing and allied health positions now filled at the hospital,” he said.
“The second phase will see these clinicians relocate to the Mater Children’s Hospital by this time next year as part of the staged merger of all paediatric services into one single hospital.
“Later this year, the Mater Children’s oncology services will relocate to the Royal Children’s at Herston to facilitate the cardiac transfer and joint planning for the new hospital.”
Mr Robertson said phase three, involving the actual development of the new hospital, was progressing extremely well.
“Careful planning has been underway to ensure the Queensland Children’s Hospital will be the most advanced paediatric hospital in Australia,” he said.
“Nearly 50 planning groups are engaged in identifying best practice models which will culminate in the hospital’s Health Services Plan later this year.
“This planning process is symbolically important as it represents the first step in the staff from all three hospitals involved coming together.
“There is strong support from clinicians as evidenced by their becoming actively involved in the planning process. We recognise that this close engagement with clinicians is critical to the success of the project.
“We are also actively engaging with other key stakeholders including the hospital Foundations, our University partners, our union partners and patient support groups.”
Mr Robertson said among many other ways people could obtain information and to have their say on the project was the new Queensland Children’s Hospital web-site - www.health.qld.gov.au/childrenshospital.
“The Queensland Children’s Hospital project is an exciting opportunity to build a statewide paediatric service of international significance and I encourage the community to become involved and help shape what we build,” he said.
Application forms for the Family Advisory Council and the Youth Advisory Forum are available at www.health.qld.gov.au/childrenshospital or (07) 3636 5502.
19 April, 2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185