Minister calls for end to children’s hospital hypocrisy

Health Minister Stephen Robertson has today countered Liberal National Party Deputy Mark McArdle’s criticism of the Queensland Children’s Hospital saying he could not allow Mr McArdle’s hypocrisy to go unchallenged.

Minister Robertson said Mr McArdle’s attempt to paint himself as an opponent of the new Children’s Hospital to gain political mileage was a blatant backflip on his own party’s policy.

“The Liberals and Nationals supported this announcement at the last election in the face of a vast body of research supporting a single children’s hospital as delivering the best possible service for Queensland children,” Mr Robertson said.

“Mr McArdle has honed his skills in hypocrisy over a long career and is claiming to be an advocate for patients whilst ignoring the overwhelming support for a single children’s hospital from patients and clinicians.

Minister Robertson said Governments were rarely criticised for delivering on election promises endorsed by voters at the ballot box.

“Yet that’s the position now faced by the Bligh Government as it works to honour its public 2006 election commitment to build a new world-class children’s hospital at South Brisbane,” he said.

In response to some concerns raised, Queensland Health and AMA Queensland jointly undertook a comprehensive consultation process whereby some 140 forum representatives agreed that a single children’s hospital was the best way forward for paediatric health care in Queensland.

“Participants were almost evenly divided on either a South Brisbane or Herston site, however they agreed, that in the best interests of children’s health, the Government should not lose momentum in building the new Queensland Children’s Hospital.

“Mr McArdle continues to scaremonger and peddle misinformation," Mr Robertson said.

“Northside families can be assured that they will continue to have access to emergency services through a dedicated paediatric emergency department on the northside.

“Some of the existing buildings at the current Herston site will be used to provide expanded capacity for the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, our largest tertiary referral centre.

“And once again I assure Queensland families who need to access the new Queensland Children's Hospital services they will be provided with purpose-built accommodation options on campus.

"This will include 20 hospitality suites located on floors adjacent to the paediatric intensive care and neonatal intensive care units," he said.

The Bligh Government’s vision for a new Queensland Children’s Hospital goes far beyond providing excellent facilities and services in Brisbane, it also extends to the co-ordination of wider tertiary paediatric services around the State.

“The Queensland Children’s Hospital will be the hub of a statewide network and not just cater for children and young people in Queensland’s south-east.

“We are working closely with key stakeholders, including AMA Queensland, clinicians and parents, to develop a statewide paediatric network that will deliver the best possible care for Queensland Children.

“It’s time to stop playing politics with Children’s health, and in the spirit of bipartisanship work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for Queensland kids," Mr Robertson said.

Ends.

Media: Kate Van Poelgeest 3234 1185 or 0458 449 267