Creating a single Children's Cancer Centre

Mater Health Services announced in the beginning of March that the children's cancer service at the Mater Children's Hospital will move to the Royal Children's Hospital to create a new single children's cancer centre by September this year.

The unification of the children's cancer services is the first step towards integrating specialities in the lead up to opening the single purpose-built Queensland Children's Hospital on Mater Hospital campus in 2011.

The decision to fast track the integration of the children's cancer services was made after much discussion and planning between both hospitals and the medical and nursing staff of the existing two units.

Professor Ross Pinkerton, who was recently appointed as Director of Paediatric Oncology across both the Royal Children's Hospital and Mater Children's Hospital, said a number of factors influenced this decision.

“A single integrated children's cancer centre is the best way to provide a comprehensive cancer service to all Queensland children and their families.”

“The new centre will maximise the use of all clinical and research resources which will benefit patients through the expansion of multidisciplinary and outreach teams and give patients better access to new treatment strategies.”

“All services, including some specialised imaging and bone marrow transplant facilities, will now be available at the one site, so families will no longer have to travel between hospitals to access services.”

“The move will also support staff education and professional development which will strengthen the service's capacity to care for children with cancer throughout the state,” Professor Pinkerton said.

The timing of the move will be arranged so that the majority of children that are currently being cared for by Mater Children's Hospital cancer service will have completed the most intensive phases of their treatment. “A consultative process will be established between all parties to ensure the integration of the cancer services will be a smooth transition for everyone involved,” Professor Pinkerton said.

The ward area will be used to help accommodate paediatric cardiac patients from the Prince Charles Hospital who will transfer to Mater Children's Hospital in March 2008.