Published Friday, 06 June, 2008 at 09:58 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
MUMS AND DADS TO DIAL 13HEALTH FOR NEWBORN ADVICE
The State Government’s popular health hotline is set to be expanded by offering mums and dads round the clock access to information and support about their newborns and young children, Premier Anna Bligh told State Parliament this morning.
Ms Bligh said 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) would receive a $3.5 million upgrade as part of the $29 million Universal Postnatal Contact Service package. The hotline will recruit child health staff to take on the added workload by the end of 2008.
“Once fully rolled out, our Universal Postnatal Contact Service will follow up every new mother after birth to ensure they are coping with parenthood’s early stresses,” she said.
“But we’re also ensuring that telephone support is available round the clock so that parents can make the call whenever they’re concerned.
“The first phase will involve the existing Child Health Line transitioning to our popular 24-hour health hotline 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) by the end of the year and trebling its capacity from 50,000 parenting calls a year to 150,000.
“Recurrent funding of $3.5 million a year has been provided for the move.
“This will give parents immediate access to a one-stop shop health hotline that they can call if their child is sick, their baby is difficult to feed or even if they’re after general parenting advice about their child’s development.
“We’ll start recruiting an additional 27 child health staff to the hotline from next month so that come December the hotline will be at full capacity to receive up to 150,000 calls a year.
“Studies indicate first time parents make approximately 35 contacts with a variety of health professionals for information and advice in the first year of their infant’s life – this can be a very stressful time for new mums and dads.
“That’s why this service is so important.”
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said also as part of the Postnatal Contact Service, existing trials of open plan drop-in child health clinics would be extended in shopping centres or close to other local facilities.
“These clinics provide support to parents with babies aged up to 18 months old through breastfeeding and nutrition advice, child development support and parenting programs,” he said.
“Parents will be able to choose when to attend these clinics at more convenient times, without the need for an appointment.
“The trials will identify the best hours of operating these clinics, to best meet parents’ needs.
“These clinics have already proved very successful in Ipswich and Deception Bay which both see between 20 to 30 children a day during half day sessions.
“We’ll open six more clinics in Cairns, Townsville, the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast by the end of the year.”
Ms Bligh said dedicated hospital community liaison nurses will also be rolled out in every hospital with maternity services in Queensland by 2011.
“Currently these nurses are in place in about 20 percent of the State’s 41 hospitals which have maternity services,” she said.
“These nurses will individually assess all mothers leaving hospital to identify need for further support based on known risk factors such as postnatal depression.
“The staff will bridge hospital and community services so that those parents needing additional support at home don’t fall between the cracks.”
Ms Bligh said that by 2012, under the Universal Postnatal Contact Service, all mothers of newborn babies in Queensland will have follow-up contact from a health professional after they leave hospital.
The Government’s current Child Health Line (3862 2333 or 1800 177 299) will be diverted to the 13 HEALTH line (13 43 25 84) in December this year.
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3237 1944
Ms Bligh said 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) would receive a $3.5 million upgrade as part of the $29 million Universal Postnatal Contact Service package. The hotline will recruit child health staff to take on the added workload by the end of 2008.
“Once fully rolled out, our Universal Postnatal Contact Service will follow up every new mother after birth to ensure they are coping with parenthood’s early stresses,” she said.
“But we’re also ensuring that telephone support is available round the clock so that parents can make the call whenever they’re concerned.
“The first phase will involve the existing Child Health Line transitioning to our popular 24-hour health hotline 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) by the end of the year and trebling its capacity from 50,000 parenting calls a year to 150,000.
“Recurrent funding of $3.5 million a year has been provided for the move.
“This will give parents immediate access to a one-stop shop health hotline that they can call if their child is sick, their baby is difficult to feed or even if they’re after general parenting advice about their child’s development.
“We’ll start recruiting an additional 27 child health staff to the hotline from next month so that come December the hotline will be at full capacity to receive up to 150,000 calls a year.
“Studies indicate first time parents make approximately 35 contacts with a variety of health professionals for information and advice in the first year of their infant’s life – this can be a very stressful time for new mums and dads.
“That’s why this service is so important.”
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said also as part of the Postnatal Contact Service, existing trials of open plan drop-in child health clinics would be extended in shopping centres or close to other local facilities.
“These clinics provide support to parents with babies aged up to 18 months old through breastfeeding and nutrition advice, child development support and parenting programs,” he said.
“Parents will be able to choose when to attend these clinics at more convenient times, without the need for an appointment.
“The trials will identify the best hours of operating these clinics, to best meet parents’ needs.
“These clinics have already proved very successful in Ipswich and Deception Bay which both see between 20 to 30 children a day during half day sessions.
“We’ll open six more clinics in Cairns, Townsville, the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast by the end of the year.”
Ms Bligh said dedicated hospital community liaison nurses will also be rolled out in every hospital with maternity services in Queensland by 2011.
“Currently these nurses are in place in about 20 percent of the State’s 41 hospitals which have maternity services,” she said.
“These nurses will individually assess all mothers leaving hospital to identify need for further support based on known risk factors such as postnatal depression.
“The staff will bridge hospital and community services so that those parents needing additional support at home don’t fall between the cracks.”
Ms Bligh said that by 2012, under the Universal Postnatal Contact Service, all mothers of newborn babies in Queensland will have follow-up contact from a health professional after they leave hospital.
The Government’s current Child Health Line (3862 2333 or 1800 177 299) will be diverted to the 13 HEALTH line (13 43 25 84) in December this year.
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3237 1944