THE Palaszczuk Government is under increasing pressure to keep the controversial site of the old Royal Children’s Hospital for public health services, with the Queensland Nurses Union joining the push to retain the land for the benefit of all Queenslanders.

QNU secretary Beth Mohle described the redevelopment of the site in Herston as a “once-in-lifetime” opportunity for the provision of innovative public health services.

She backed calls by the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Medical Staff Association for services such as rehabilitation and day surgery to be included on the site with links to nearby research facilities and training opportunities for public health workers.

“We’re only limited by our imagination and our passion and there’s plenty of that around right now with people who are committed to delivering something that’s world class and focuses on high-quality patient care,” Ms Mohle said.

RBWH Medical Staff Association chairwoman Liz Kenny said Queensland desperately needed more rehabilitation services to help get patients back to their families and to potentially allow them to return to work after traumatic injuries and strokes.

“Rehabilitation and elective surgery are huge issues for us and this is a fundamental opportunity to do good for our community,” Dr Kenny said.

Expressions of interest for redevelopment of the 4.8-hectare site were called last November when the Newman government was in power.

The Labor Government has short-listed two private groups to redevelop the site – Frasers Property, formerly Australand, with Australian Unity, and Lend Lease with Trinity Health, a joint venture between Mater Health Services and UnitingCare Health.

The short-listed consortiums have until March 2016 to submit detailed proposals with the Government likely to announce the successful group mid next year.

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Chris Zappala called for much more public discussion about the future of the site before a decision was made.

“If we get this wrong, it will haunt us for years and years and years,” he said. “Hopefully, the Government is going to think long and hard about this and get it right.”

Dr Zappala said the AMAQ was not against a public-private partnership to provide health services on the site.