BLIGH ANNOUNCES NEW NORTHSIDE CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

The Bligh Government will deliver a brand new, dedicated children’s emergency department on Brisbane’s northside by 2012 – ahead of the opening of the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Premier Anna Bligh made the announcement today, honouring a promise to deliver a dedicated children’s ED to Brisbane’s northside.

The new $45.6 million ED will be located at The Prince Charles Hospital at Chermside and deliver 12 new emergency treatment bays and a 20-bed short-stay observation unit.

"Once complete, the Queensland Children’s Hospital will be the cornerstone of child health services for the whole state, but my Government has always recognised that to be a success, it would need to be supported by dedicated children’s services delivered locally.

"Because of rapidly growing demand, paediatric clinicians told us that South East Queensland had to be the first priority for these local services.

"In response to this, Queensland Health has completed the South East Queensland Paediatric Planning Report to identify where new and expanded children’s health services are needed to support the QCH.

"The report identified a need for:

"Today’s commitment is the first part of our response."

Ms Bligh said Government would begin a progressive roll-out the other new or expanded services from 2012 - before the Queensland Children’s Hospital comes on-line.

"These new and expanded services will include dedicated specialist doctors and nurses for kids to treat conditions such as seizures and broken bones and stabilise children with more serious problems for transfer to the dedicated children’s hospital.

"These new services do not mean that children won’t be seen at other hospitals – in an emergency the best place to take a child will always be the nearest emergency department and the Government will run a public awareness campaign to make sure Queensland parents know this," she said.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson also gave a firm commitment that a children’s emergency department would continue until at least 2014.

"Even after the Queensland Children’s Hospital opens, if the local community and medical experts still see a need for an emergency children’s specialist at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, there will be one," he said.

Mr Robertson said today’s commitment meant that children in South East Queensland will receive the care they need in hospitals closest to where they live.

"Together with the delivery of the Queensland Children’s Hospital, these are hallmarks of a world-class system and that’s good news for Queensland families."

The South East Queensland Paediatric Planning Report and the Government’s response is available at www.health.qld.gov.au.

Thursday, 19 February 2009