**URGENT** Royal Childrens Hospital Brisbane

[Luna Lovegood]

***MODS: Sorry if this isnt ok...***


Tomorrow there is a rally to save the Royal Children's Hospital.

As some of you may be aware the Bligh Governments plan is to close down the Royal Children's Hospital, and amalgamating it with the Mater Childrens to combine resources.

As lovely as that sounds, it leaves the northside of Brisbane with no children's hospital.

To see all the facts please follow this link..

http://www.smarthospitals.com.au/The-Facts.html (http://</p><p>[URL="http://www.smarthospitals.com.au/The-Facts.html")

The rally started at 9-11am tomorrow (8th March) and will be held at the Medical School Parklands (Next to the RCH on Herston Road)

If there are any hubbers interested in attending please feel free to PM me so we can rally together...

More information at:

www.smarthospitals.com.au (http://www.smarthospitals.com.au)


TIA:flowerz:

[Nowhere]

we only have one childrens hospital for the whole of WA, and it works well, It means all the Specialist drs are in one hospital rather then being moved between the two, From other mums that I know that live at royal at the moment I was under the impresion that the Royal childrens was going to be a childrens cancer hospital and all other specialties at Mater is that still whats hapening

Effectively how much longer wil it make your drive to Mater surely in a true emergany the ambos if they cant stablise in the ambulance they wil go to the local hospital first to stablise the transfer to mater once stable anyway

[Luna Lovegood]

The RCH is a combined facility with multiple research facilities, the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital. This facility has world class medical equipment and pioneers Australian and often worldwide medical research, trials, and allied health equipment. Without the co-support of the entire Herston facility, it will not be possible for it to have "world class" facilities at the Mater, and will seperate the already established world class facilty which includes:

Oncology research and, oncology treatment at the dedicated Joyce Tweedle Building.
Medical Imaging- particularly the Dep. Nuclear Medicine.
Neonatal Facilities
Pathology/Genetics
Burn unit
One hospital eliminates a backup plan in the event of large trauma emergencies (fire, chemical spills or epidemics). Both Melbourne and Sydney have two childrens hospital.

Restriction of gentic/family planning are inevitable at the Marter site, as well as restrictions to some research. The Mater IS a religious hospital and therefore this will have social and cultural impact as well.

These are just some of the reasons.

And lastly, to answer PP original question, how much longer would it take for me to get there in an emergency? I live 5km from the CBD, the Mater is 2km South of the CBD, but due to the Brisbane road infrastructure it would take me 20-30minutes and potentially over an hour in peak hour- we don't have many roads going in, out, through and around the CBD (only way to the south side from where I live) and due to the restructure and intended roadworkds for up until 2012, it makes a lot more hold ups.

:ecomcity::ecomcity::ecomcity:

I could go on for hours- but I work for the RBWH, and livge on the northside, so I am very passionate...sorry for going on.;)

[mini_me]

we only have one childrens hospital for the whole of WA, and it works well, It means all the Specialist drs are in one hospital rather then being moved between the two, From other mums that I know that live at royal at the moment I was under the impresion that the Royal childrens was going to be a childrens cancer hospital and all other specialties at Mater is that still whats hapening

Effectively how much longer wil it make your drive to Mater surely in a true emergany the ambos if they cant stablise in the ambulance they wil go to the local hospital first to stablise the transfer to mater once stable anyway

:iagree:

Plus its only like few minutes away. Dont get me wrong i love the royal bris but looking at it recently with all of the construction eekkk what an eye sore, they were also complaining about not enough beds there + facilities.

Have you read all of the info on QLD gov website QLD-HEALTH_RE: Childrens Hospital (http://www.health.qld.gov.au/childrenshospital/)

It explains plans for a brand new childrens hospital are underway and should be completed in 2014

Tell ya what id be super happy to have a childrens hospital that wasnt 3 (+ depending on traffic) hours away in another state

[Luna Lovegood]

:iagree:

Plus its only like few minutes away. Dont get me wrong i love the royal bris but looking at it recently with all of the construction eekkk what an eye sore, they were also complaining about not enough beds there + facilities.

Have you read all of the info on QLD gov website QLD-HEALTH_RE: Childrens Hospital (http://www.health.qld.gov.au/childrenshospital/)

It explains plans for a brand new childrens hospital are underway and should be completed in 2014

Tell ya what id be super happy to have a childrens hospital that wasnt 3 (+ depending on traffic) hours away in another state

Firstly- so the hospital doesnt look great- but it treats patients exceptionally.

Secondly- The Mater site will have less beds and space for facility than what the RCH and the mater childrens currently provide.

Thirdly- I am well aware of all the facts including that $2b has already been spent on this and the master plans are yet complete (revealed in a speach by the shddow Minister for Health Mark McArdle). This money would be more effective in imnproving both hospitals. When you consider population inflation in 20 years time there will be a need for 2, or more childrens hospitals, and then what kind of money will be spent on achieving this...:rolleyes:

Besides since when has the Mater been a "few minutes" from the Royal? While the distance is short, the infrastucture just doesn't allow that speedy travel by any means (ambo's included)...

[missie_mack]

I wish I could help but I now live interstate. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for this hospital and I am eternally grateful for it and the knowledge it gave my parents to help me, which I now use to help my own children. It is always a shame when they reduce the number of hospitals IMO

I hope these plans don't go ahead but unfortunately I also realise how pig headed they are

[Luna Lovegood]

I wish I could help but I now live interstate. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for this hospital and I am eternally grateful for it and the knowledge it gave my parents to help me, which I now use to help my own children. It is always a shame when they reduce the number of hospitals IMO

I hope these plans don't go ahead but unfortunately I also realise how pig headed they are

We can only hope that they realise this risk is too great before it progresses. How can they reduce hospital services, when the population is increasing...how very strange...

[mum_I'm_hungry]

Isn't there going to be a children's emergency established at Prince Charles? I don't know what to think. My husband worked at the Mater kids last year and is a specialist at the Royal now. He thinks combining them is a good idea in that it creates one single super centre for specialised treatment. I believe there a number of studies that show it's better all-round for patients, but logistically, I'm not sure :confused:

[amandaw]

I've heard a flip side to that Alli - from a friend who's a nurse at the RBH....she said that the idea of a supercentre is fantastic, but the $'s they are talking to make it effective is about 8 times what the government has allocated to spend - something that they're never going to come to the party with! Her belief is that it is better to run the 2 seperate centres yet spend the money that is allocated in order to upgrade and add to existing facilities

I'd personally hate the idea of that extra 10 km's (realistically 15 mins min) on the road coming from my way!

[Luna Lovegood]

[quote=amandaw;3555506]
she said that the idea of a supercentre is fantastic, but the $'s they are talking to make it effective is about 8 times what the government has allocated to spend - something that they're never going to come to the party with! Her belief is that it is better to run the 2 seperate centres yet spend the money that is allocated in order to upgrade and add to existing facilities
[quote]

I agree with this, over the long term it's better when considering population growth, so on.

[naiwen]

I realise it may be inconvenient for those who live on the northside but I believe it will be better for children with serious illnessess to have the one childrens hospital.

All the specialists in one place will help save lives IMO.

Great Ormond street childrens hospital in London is a great example of how the top specialists in various areas of pediatrics when brought together can save lives.

Don't forget the Royal will still take all the oncology patients.

[Luna Lovegood]

What about neonatal surgical cases?

[TuesdaysPrincess]

Ooooh I have issues with the phrase 'the Mater is a religious hospital ...'

Yes, it was established by the Sisters of Mercy, and yes there is a chapel in the hospital. However, having worked there for over 7 years I can guarantee you that there is NO PUSHING OF RELIGION onto patients or staff at all. Yes, there are pastoral carers who come to the ward ONLY if they are requested by the parents or child. What is so bad about that? Nothing is forced on the patients or parents or staff, and I think to base a gross assumption like it will change the social and cultural context of the hospital is ridiculous. There are so many people visiting all hospitals who have many and varied religious requirements, why should it make a difference who founded the hospital?

I live on the northside and have worked at the Mater my whole nursing career. I find the idea of one large hospital a breath of fresh air. I used to work in the oncology ward at the Mater before it was transferred all the way to the Royal and that was a nightmare. From what I understand there is ONE of our original staff members left working on the ward there.

The combination of the cardiac services from TPCH to the Mater has been an excellent step and has allowed for an exponential increase in cardiac surgery and hospitalisation for our beautiful heart kids, so why should it be any different with the combination of other services.

The announcement of the new emergency centre at TPCH should come as a welcome relief to the northside. The Mater sees more emergency patients through the paed system anyways, and with the expansion of the QLD population in places like Ipswich, the relocation of health services to the Mater makes the most sense.

Obviously this is a passionate subject and it's never going to happen that EVERYONE is happy, but let's think about what is best for the children - one amazing, world leader hospital where everything is in the one place and our children get the best care, no matter where it is.

[Luna Lovegood]

Ooooh I have issues with the phrase 'the Mater is a religious hospital ...'



And yet certain procedures will not done at the Mater, as with certain research...is that not a social impact regarding the Mater as a religious hospital?:confused:

[mum_I'm_hungry]

Ooooh I have issues with the phrase 'the Mater is a religious hospital ...'

Yes, it was established by the Sisters of Mercy, and yes there is a chapel in the hospital. However, having worked there for over 7 years I can guarantee you that there is NO PUSHING OF RELIGION onto patients or staff at all.

This is simply not true. If you are having your fourth child etc. at the Mater public and are having a caesar and want your tubes tied, they will not do it. I would suggest that this is pushing religion.

Before my husband started work at the Mater, he also had to sign their charter, which rabbited on about religious beliefs also. I think the old Sisters push religion quite heavily, actually.

[Luna Lovegood]

This is simply not true. If you are having your fourth child etc. at the Mater public and are having a caesar and want your tubes tied, they will not do it. I would suggest that this is pushing religion.

Before my husband started work at the Mater, he also had to sign their charter, which rabbited on about religious beliefs also. I think the old Sisters push religion quite heavily, actually.

:rolleyes: Gee I don't see how either of those could be taken as religous beliefs dictating the service the hospoital provides.


...I am joking.

:thumbsup:

[TuesdaysPrincess]

Can I just say though, the Queensland Children's Hospital is going to be a SEPERATE hospital from the Mater - yes it is on the Mater site but it is not an 'extension' of the Mater Hospital itself.

So if you do have an issue with the 'religious' nature of the Mater - does it really matter? Just because it's going to be situated near the Mater does not mean that Mater 'religious' values are going to be implemented in a QLD Health run facilty.

[TuesdaysPrincess]

I guess I'm also wondering what a 4th c-section and having your tubes tied has to do with a children's hospital? Having worked at the kids for over 7 years, I've never known this to be a problem.

Yes, I'm being a smart *** but honestly, lets put all of this in perspective people!

[3blue&1pink]

Wow.. I have had all my kids at Mater, I return there for any emergency's with my kids and DH. My family go there and I must admit that in the 10+years I have been going there not once has religion been pushed on any of us.

I could not speak highly enough of the burns unit at the RBH. They do a fantastic job :thumbsup:

[licorice]

Quote; "I guess I'm also wondering what a 4th c-section and having your tubes tied has to do with a children's hospital? Having worked at the kids for over 7 years, I've never known this to be a problem."

This may not be a problem from a paediatric perspective however if you are having that 4th C-section and your fetus has to be born as close as possible to the tertiary paediatric site for medical or surgical care that means as a women you will need to be transferred to the closest women's hospital which in this case would be a Catholic run hospital and you would be denied the choice of having your tubes tied in a Catholic Hospital. So whilst this will be a Q Health facility for the children of the state we have to remember that our children are fetuses first and this will impact on maternal health services for the women of the state.

I also think the argument of the extra travel for northside families is lame as it had to be sited somewhere and the middle of the river was an unlikely option so either the northside or the southside had to be chosen and one side would have been unhappy - there was no way around this. I am a northside mum who thinks a single chilren's hospital is the way to go, I think it was incorrectly sited for maternal health reasons not paediatric reasons but believe it was an Anna Bligh electorate thing rather than a good clinical decision however I am horrified that the LNP would go back to 2 paed hospitals as morbidity and mortality have been shown to be reduced in a single sited paediatric facility, but that is politics for you - it is all about the pollies not the community they serve!!

[Missbella]

As a north sider, I am concerned about the extra travel involved, however in emergencies, I mean, urgent one's, aren't helicopters used? o.O

As for the Mater, I worked there for over a year in 2004/2005, I found it to be a very pleasant place to work, the staff were excellent.=)

[Knocked_for_six]

Isn't there going to be a children's emergency established at Prince Charles? I don't know what to think. My husband worked at the Mater kids last year and is a specialist at the Royal now. He thinks combining them is a good idea in that it creates one single super centre for specialised treatment. I believe there a number of studies that show it's better all-round for patients, but logistically, I'm not sure :confused:

:iagree: As a pediatric specialist my husband has worked at both the Royal & Mater Children's and very much agrees with the closer. Also as Mum_I'm_Hungry has said there will be a new $45 million Children's Emergency department at Prince Charles. :thumbsup:

This link (http://www.health.qld.gov.au/childrenshospital/content/brandnew.asp)has alot of information regarding the new Queensland Children's Hospital