Queensland Paediatric Service Move, Opening and Blessing

The Move

Approximately 90 highly skilled paediatric cardiac staff transferred with the service to Mater Children’s Hospital. Careful planning in the lead up to the move resulted in a smooth transfer of four patients from The Prince Charles Hospital to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Cardiac Inpatient Ward at Mater Children’s Hospital.

CEO Mater Health Services Dr John O’Donnell welcomed the new staff and patients to Mater.

“We particularly acknowledge the special clinical skills and expertise the staff bring to the campus and look forward to expanding the range and volume of paediatric cardiac services with them,” Dr O’Donnell said.

The Blessing and Opening Ceremony

The Honourable Stephen Robertson MP, Minister for Health and the Most Reverend Brian V Finnigan DD, Auxiliary Bishop for Brisbane, lead the official ceremony and blessing of the newly relocated QPCS on Thursday 12 June.

Director of Paediatric Cardiology Dr Rob Justo spoke about the transition and features of the service before the Honourable Stephen Robertson MP, Minister for Health unveiled the plaque, officially declaring the newly relocated service reopened.

The Most Reverend Bishop V Finnigan DD delivered the liturgy which lead on to the official blessing. The audience was then addressed by family representative Liv White, whose two year old son Dane has been a QPCS patient since he was born.

The QPCS is now located in a paediatric facility for the first time in Queensland, and is expected 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 includes:

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 theatrecomplex
a 19 bed cardiac inpatient ward area
expanded Allied Health facilities
expanded parent facilities
administration areas for cardiac clinicians.

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 progressively from 2011 to 2014.

All patient referrals should be directed to QPCS at Mater Children’s Hospital. Call +61 7 3163 1667 for more information or fax +61 7 3163 7187.