A plan to fix Brisbane’s troubled Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital will be released by the Queensland Government in the coming days.
The Australian Medical Association of Queensland (AMAQ) has demanded changes at the year-old hospital, including more beds, resources and an improved IT system.
The AMAQ had an urgent meeting late on Monday afternoon with Health Minister Cameron Dick.
AMAQ president Dr Chris Zappala said Mr Dick had a support plan, which was expected to be announced within days.
“I believe that those concerns have been listened to by the Minister and he understands them,” Dr Zappala said.
“He also understands completely how those difficulties and very fatiguing conditions impact very negatively on patient care.
“I think it represents a very large step forward for the hospital.
“I think that both staff and patients and families of patients can have confidence now when they go to the hospital that they will be receiving the best care on offer in Queensland at our premier tertiary paediatric hospital.
“I don’t know why it’s taken this long and I think that’s been unfortunate because that’s allowed frustrations to build and build, not just among people who work their but patients and spectators as well.”
Families of sick children have used Facebook to highlight their own circumstances of what they see as compromised care.
Mr Dick would not comment after the meeting, but earlier hinted at more funding.
“At my direction, the Department of Health has been working with the hospital on securing a proper funding base for the hospital for the future and I hope to say a little bit more about that in the near future,” he said.
“The time for reviews is over.”