New centre unites Queensland children’s cancer services

Queensland’s youngest cancer patients can now access treatment from one specialised centre, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson officially opened the Queensland Children’s Cancer Centre at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

He said the Centre was one of the first physical steps towards integrating specialist services in the in the lead-up to the opening of the $700 million Queensland Children’s Hospital from 2011.

“Families will no longer have to travel between hospitals because all services, including some specialised imaging and bone marrow transplant facilities, are now available at the one site,” Mr Robertson said.

“The Centre offers expanded psychosocial support, new clinical resources, additional clinical trials, and innovative treatment strategies.

“It also supports staff education and professional development which will strengthen the services’ capacity to care for children with cancer throughout the State.”

Mr Robertson said the new cancer centre unified Queensland’s major paediatric oncology services previously provided at the Mater Children’s and Royal Children’s hospitals.

“The centre will treat about 120 new cancer patients each year, with around 30 of these previously treated at the Mater Children’s Hospital,” he said.

“The unit is supported by eight medical specialists, 54 nurses, 16 allied health professionals, six clinical researchers and three pharmacists.”

Mr Robertson said the centre would also lead to the development of a statewide children’s cancer network.

“This in turn will benefit all patients throughout the state through the expansion of multidisciplinary and outreach teams and give patients access to new treatment strategies,” he said.

15 November, 2007

MEDIA:     MATTHEW JUTSUM     3225 2680