Budget cash to plan for state of art spinal injuries unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital
The first move to deliver a state of the art, new spinal injuries unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital has been revealed after The Courier-Mail uncovered horror stories from past patients.
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The first move to deliver a state of the art, new spinal injuries unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital have been revealed, with $5m allocated in the State Budget for Queensland Health to draw up a business plan to ensure all patients receive ultimate clinical care.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the plan will ensure that during the upgrade process patients and families will be fully supported.
The Courier-Mail uncovered horror stories from past patients at the Brisbane facility where paralysed and vulnerable patients were left to lie in their own faeces, sit naked in front of other patients and subjected to aggressive bowel treatments.
The stories of neglect and degradation were supported by 2021 Queenslander of the Year Dinesh Palipana, who is an emergency doctor and was a patient at the unit in 2010.
Dr Palipana said his time at the centre, the state’s only spinal injury unit, was “confronting” and that he was concerned that patients were not treated with dignity.
Dr Palipana said he welcomed that there has been a commitment to the spinal unit in the State Budget but hoped that patients would see a movement to improving services as soon as possible.
“This is about the patients. It has always been about the patients who have been waiting decades for change. I hope this comes sooner rather than later,” he said.
The Health Minister, who met with Dr Palipana last week, said that she remains committed to providing a state-of-the art spinal cord rehabilitation facility.
“I’ve been very clear, that I expect patients and their families will be supported through the process and know their care, recovery and wellbeing is the most important consideration for Queensland Health.
“I want to thank the hardworking staff at the Princess Alexandra Hospital’s spinal injuries unit and reassure them we will continue supporting their exceptional patient care while working to provide a state-of-the-art facility,” she said.
The business case will include a comprehensive assessment of future clinical service demand for spinal cord injury across care continuum including acute, rehabilitation and transition to home. The planning will explore all infrastructure options to deliver a renewed spinal cord injury unit to deliver world leading spinal care.
Meanwhile Queensland Health’s Chief Operating Officer David Rosengren has completed a high-level evaluation with both Metro North and Metro South HHS, to assess the feasibility of relocating the Queensland Spinal Cord Injury Service at the Princess Alexandra Hospital to enable an extensive refurbishment.
Under consideration is a potential temporary relocation to the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) at Metro North Hospital and Health Service but no decision has yet been made.
As a next step, the Director-General Shaun Drummond has endorsed the development of a detailed impact assessment and implementation plan. This impact analysis will include extensive engagement with patients, families, staff and other stakeholders.
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