Queensland Children’s Hospital provides welcome distraction for sick kids

A world first project will give sick kids the chance to star in their own TV productions while they’re getting treatment in hospital.

Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman, CEO Pip Forbes and Juiced Star Ella Pointon at 'Juiced TV' at Queensland Children’s Hospital - Picture: Richard Walker

Construction of a hi-tech television production studio at the Queensland Children’s Hospital is complete to provide a distraction to the state’s sickest children.

Juiced TV, a world-first broadcast project, is a television program made by kids in hospital for kids in hospital to provide a fun outlet while also boosting health literacy for youngsters facing a traumatic experience.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the studio provides comfort to children embarking on an upsetting challenge in their lives.

“When you get to meet the kids here in the studio, they really forget they’re in hospital receiving really critical treatment because they’re caught up in the fun of being a TV star on their TV show,” she said.

CEO Pip Forbes, Juiced Star Ella Pointon with Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman at 'Juiced TV' at Queensland Children’s Hospital, Picture: Richard Walker

“What a wonderful creative distraction that is for our kids, but not just that — it’s teaching them so many skills they’ll take with them when they go home after leaving hospital.”

Ms Fentiman also provided more detail about the newly created role of Chief Midwife, which will be helmed by Liz Wilkes who will serve as the head of the crucial profession.

“She’s a senior bureaucrat within the Department of Health, is on the executive leadership team with the director general and other deputy director generals and will brief me regularly on what we need to do to strengthen midwifery across the state and how we can attract even more midwives from interstate and overseas,” she said.

The Health Minister faced criticism from the Opposition amid the announcement over the ongoing reduction in maternity care in a number of regional areas, particularly in Cooktown in the state’s far north where the facility remains on bypass.

Ms Fentiman said the state government was continuing to advertise for obstetricians during the workforce shortage but revealed 13 GPs had begun advanced obstetric training through a government-funded initiative.

“One of the solutions to get obstetricians to places like Cooktown is to support GPs to upskill and become GP obstetricians because it’s the GP obstetricians we need in regional towns to get back to full birthing services,” she said.

“I’m really hoping our new investment working with GPs to become GP obstetricians will mean that Cooktown can be reopened very soon.”