Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital name officially changed to Queensland Children’s Hospital

QUEENSLAND’S Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital has officially been renamed Queensland Children’s Hospital following a controversial decision announced in September.

QUEENSLAND’S Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital has officially been renamed Queensland Children’s Hospital.

The name change to remove Lady Phyllis Cilento’s name was passed through regulation this morning with Children’s Health Queensland CEO Fionnagh Dougan emailing staff at the hospital to inform them of the change this morning.

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Now just the signage remains but that is due to come down in coming weeks.

“As you are aware, the Minister for Health announced on 21 September that the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital would be renamed the Queensland Children’s Hospital,” Ms Dougan wrote.

“Since then, there have been a range of processes under way to formally and legally effect the name change.

“Those processes are now complete. As of today, Friday 9 November 2018, the name of the hospital is the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

“Work will now begin on gradually implementing this change across the organisation. Please be assured that no money will be redirected from clinical services and this will not impact the day-to-day functioning of the hospital.”

The formerly named Lady Cilento Children's Hospital is now officially Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Ms Dougan said the work to replace the signage would begin in “coming weeks” and would be complete by the end of the year.

She reiterated Health Minister Steven Miles’ pledge that the funding for that would be drawn from the Housing and Public Works budget and not Queensland Health.

“Non-signage related changes – such as changes to our computer systems, printed materials, website, uniforms and the like – will be done on an as-needs basis within existing resources over the coming 12 to 18 months.”

The Cilento family, which is fighting to stop the name change, issued a statement slamming the move.

“We, as a family, are beyond distressed at the news that the Queensland Government is pushing ahead with this pointless, expensive and misogynistic name change,” they said.

“To continue ruining our grandmother’s legacy as part of a political game is sickening.

“We are calling for an independent investigation into how this government is allowed to get away with not only an attack on our family, but an assault on the health of our state’s children.

“We are yet to hear one valid reason for this name change and believe all those involved should be ashamed of themselves. “