New Queensland paediatric cardiac service unveiled

Friday, 13 June 2008

The Honourable Stephen Robertson MP, Minister for Health and the Most Reverend Brian V Finnigan DD, Auxilary Bishop for Brisbane lead the official ceremony and blessing of the newly relocated A$39.3 million Queensland Paediatric Cardiac Service at Mater Children’s Hospital on Thursday 12 June.

The QPCS relocated from The Prince Charles Hospital to Mater Children’s Hospital on Tuesday 20 May 2008.

It is now located in a paediatric facility for the first time in Queensland and is a centre of excellence for paediatric cardiac services, expecting to perform around 350 procedures each year.

CEO Mater Health Services Dr John O’Donnell said the QPCS is an environment where the needs of children and their families are well understood, with central social facilities for staff and families.

“The QPCS is supported by a comprehensive range of paediatric sub-specialties to ensure that the child’s clinical needs can be addressed by a coordinated team of staff,” Dr O’Donnell said.

The new facilities for the QPCS will include:

• cardiac specialist clinics and clinical measurements services
• new state-of-the-art catheter laboratory
• expanded Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with an additional nine beds
• dedicated cardiac operating theatre and perfusion areas in theatre complex
• a 19 bed cardiac inpatient ward area
• expanded Allied Health facilities
• expanded parent facilities
• administration areas for cardiac clinicians.

“Our state’s growing population may be best served in the future by integrated health service delivery, where infants and children with cardiac disease are cared for in a new, single, tertiary children’s hospital,” said Dr O’Donnell.

The transition of the Queensland Paediatric Cardiac Service to Mater is an important milestone towards the integration of tertiary children’s health care services in preparation for the opening of the Queensland Children’s Hospital by 2014.

“This is an exciting time for paediatric health services in Queensland.”
 

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