Published Wednesday, 05 September, 2007 at 10:25 AM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
BEATTIE GOVT TO BOOST CARDIAC SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
Cardiac services, including heart operations, for Queensland children will improve when they are transferred from the Prince Charles to the Mater Children’s Hospital next year, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
Mr Robertson told State Parliament more beds and extra staff would mean more cardiac surgery for young patients and less surgery postponements.
“Pressure on the Prince Charles cardiac paediatric intensive care unit already eased this year with its number of beds increasing from 3 to 4,” Mr Robertson said.
“When services move to the Mater next year the number of paediatric cardiac beds will increase to 9 (5 intensive care unit beds and 4 high dependency unit beds).
“In 2006/2007, the Beattie Government allocated $19.2 million to improve paediatric cardiac services at the Prince Charles and a further $3.8 million this year.
“The Prince Charles can currently perform 6 paediatric cardiac operations a week.
“This capacity will increase at the Mater.”
Mr Robertson said waiting times at the Prince Charles had already reduced in the past year.
“Currently, 70 children are waiting an average of 79 days for cardiac surgery, down from 75 children waiting an average of 100 days in August 2006,” he said.
“The Mater transfer has the potential to reduce waits further with the increase in the number of cardiac paediatric intensive care beds.”
Mr Robertson said the capacity to diagnose heart problems and perform routine procedures such as repairing a hole in the heart would also improve at the Mater with greater access to the cardiac catheter laboratory.
“Currently, paediatric and adult cardiac patients share the lab, meaning access for children is limited to 3 x 3-hour sessions per week.
“This will improve at the Mater where we are funding a new cardiac catheter lab which will provide cardiac diagnostic and interventional procedures for children 5 days per week.
“Adults at the Prince Charles will then have full access to the existing lab.”
Mr Robertson said the number of funded clinical positions would also increase to deliver the service improvements.
“To safely operate more beds at the Mater, an increase of around 10 nursing positions will be required,” he said.
“We are planning for more medical staff to perform the extra operations and procedures.
“In preparation for the transfer of services next year, additional nursing staff from both the Prince Charles and the Mater have commenced up skilling in paediatric cardiac nursing including catheterisation, peri-operative, intensive care and cardiac ward nursing.”
“Queensland Health is also actively recruiting nurses both nationally and internationally.
“Nurses have been successfully recruited from the United Kingdom and New Zealand into paediatric cardiac services.”
Mr Robertson said the Prince Charles Hospital was currently undergoing a $134 million redevelopment to improve its adult health services and take pressure off other public hospitals on the northside.
5 September, 2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185 or 0409 069 056
Mr Robertson told State Parliament more beds and extra staff would mean more cardiac surgery for young patients and less surgery postponements.
“Pressure on the Prince Charles cardiac paediatric intensive care unit already eased this year with its number of beds increasing from 3 to 4,” Mr Robertson said.
“When services move to the Mater next year the number of paediatric cardiac beds will increase to 9 (5 intensive care unit beds and 4 high dependency unit beds).
“In 2006/2007, the Beattie Government allocated $19.2 million to improve paediatric cardiac services at the Prince Charles and a further $3.8 million this year.
“The Prince Charles can currently perform 6 paediatric cardiac operations a week.
“This capacity will increase at the Mater.”
Mr Robertson said waiting times at the Prince Charles had already reduced in the past year.
“Currently, 70 children are waiting an average of 79 days for cardiac surgery, down from 75 children waiting an average of 100 days in August 2006,” he said.
“The Mater transfer has the potential to reduce waits further with the increase in the number of cardiac paediatric intensive care beds.”
Mr Robertson said the capacity to diagnose heart problems and perform routine procedures such as repairing a hole in the heart would also improve at the Mater with greater access to the cardiac catheter laboratory.
“Currently, paediatric and adult cardiac patients share the lab, meaning access for children is limited to 3 x 3-hour sessions per week.
“This will improve at the Mater where we are funding a new cardiac catheter lab which will provide cardiac diagnostic and interventional procedures for children 5 days per week.
“Adults at the Prince Charles will then have full access to the existing lab.”
Mr Robertson said the number of funded clinical positions would also increase to deliver the service improvements.
“To safely operate more beds at the Mater, an increase of around 10 nursing positions will be required,” he said.
“We are planning for more medical staff to perform the extra operations and procedures.
“In preparation for the transfer of services next year, additional nursing staff from both the Prince Charles and the Mater have commenced up skilling in paediatric cardiac nursing including catheterisation, peri-operative, intensive care and cardiac ward nursing.”
“Queensland Health is also actively recruiting nurses both nationally and internationally.
“Nurses have been successfully recruited from the United Kingdom and New Zealand into paediatric cardiac services.”
Mr Robertson said the Prince Charles Hospital was currently undergoing a $134 million redevelopment to improve its adult health services and take pressure off other public hospitals on the northside.
5 September, 2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185 or 0409 069 056