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Thursday, 04 December 2008

Hopes Labor backlash will save children's hospital

27/09/2008 5:25:00 PM.  | AAP
A senior researcher at Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) is appealing for support from the Greens and voters to halt plans for a controversial super children's hospital in South Brisbane.

Researcher Harry Smith wants the Greens to allocate preferences to the Liberal National Party (LNP) instead of Labor at the next election in a bid to save the RCH, where he has worked for 35 years.

"The only way we will stop this is with people power at the election," Dr Smith said.

The state government plans to merge the RCH and Mater Children's Hospital in South Brisbane into a new $1.1 billion super Queensland Children's Hospital on a site next to the Mater.

But medicos are outraged that the plan involves removing the  children's hospital from Brisbane's northside.

"This is the first indication that the Liberals may be really listening," Dr Smith said.

Greens spokeswoman Anne Boccabella confirmed it would not give preferences to any party that supported the closure of the Royal Children's Hospital.

"The LNP says it's a poor decision but whether they will go into the election saying they will stop it is another question," Ms Boccabella said.

"We will not be giving preferences to anyone who supports removal of the Royal Children's Hospital from the Herston site ... or any downgrading."

Dr Smith said the state government had spent $126 million some three years ago upgrading pathology and expanding the RCH's services.

"It's an excellent service - now its under threat of being broken up," he said.

"You don't break up integrated units like this because it weakens the whole lot."

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