JOINT BOARD TO RUN NEW CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

A joint Queensland Health-Mater board will run the new $700 million Queensland Children’s Hospital, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said the seven-member board would include three Queensland Health and three Mater nominees. The Health Minister will appoint the chair following agreement with the Mater.

However, the new hospital will be a Queensland Health facility and staff will be Queensland Health employees.

Transitional arrangements will be available for Mater employees who wish to remain so when the Queensland Children’s Hospital opens.

“The new children’s hospital is a true partnership between the Mater and the State Government and the new board will reflect this strong collaboration,” Mr Robertson said.

“As is currently the case for all Queensland Health hospitals, the new children’s hospital will be accountable to the Health Minister through the Director General of Queensland Health.

“The Queensland Children’s Hospital board will have a role similar to that of an Area Health Service manager within Queensland Health and report to the Director-General of Queensland Health.

“The board will appoint a Chief Executive Officer for the day-to-day running of the hospital in a role similar to that of a district manager within Queensland Health.

“This structure will create the best possible governance model for providing world-class state-wide health services to children throughout Queensland.”

Requirements of the board include:

·The board is to have responsibility for strategic leadership and management of the hospital in a manner consistent with Queensland Health policies and directions;

·The board is to consist of seven members. Selection of members should ensure requisite skills, experience and attributes;

·Board members are to be appointed by Governor in Council;

·The board is to appoint the CEO, subject to agreement by the Director General;

·The board is to enter into a performance agreement with the CEO which is also subject to the approval of the Director General.

Mr Robertson said he would bring to Cabinet a stand-alone bill giving effect to the hospital governance model later this year.

He said work was well underway on the new hospital with nearly 50 planning groups working towards best practice models that will culminate in a Health Services Plan later this year.

“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,” Mr Robertson 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 planning had closely engaged clinicians at all three hospitals involved – the Royal Children’s, the Mater Children’s and the Prince Charles.

“We are also actively involving with other key stakeholders including the hospital Foundations, our University partners, our union partners and patient support groups.”

MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185