April 2005

$2.5 million equipment tackles child heart disease

The Government will contribute $2.5 million towards equipment at a new state-of-the-art research and treatment facility at the Royal Children’s Hospital to improve the successful treatment of heart disease in children.

Minister for Innovation John Brumby said the funding was being provided from the Government’s successful Science Technology and Innovation program.

Inspecting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment with Health Minister Bronwyn Pike, Mr Brumby said the $46 million Paediatric MRI Research Centre project in Parkville would ensure Victoria remained at the world forefront in child health.

The new centre will be part of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and will establish Victoria as a major centre for international paediatric research and development and provide an international-standard training facility.

‘But, most importantly, it will provide Victorian children and their families with the highest standards of clinical care while their illnesses are diagnosed and treated,’ he said.

Ms Pike said heart disease was a major child health problem, responsible for half of all critically-ill children in Australia being admitted to intensive care.

‘Each year, surgeons at the Royal Children’s Hospital perform open-heart surgery on 500 children and another 500 undergo key-hole surgery,’ she said.

‘The new imaging machines will help doctors and surgeons diagnose and treat complex heart problems with greater precision and effectiveness.’

MRIs enable researchers and doctors to take three-dimensional images that can reveal heart malformations, positioning, blood flow and contraction information.

They are also critical in diagnosis and research into brain development and function in premature babies and children as well as the diagnosis of congenital defects.

The new facility will be located at the Murdoch Institute’s new R and D Centre—part of a $14.9 million redevelopment that was kick-started with $4.9 million under the Government's Science, Technology and Innovation Initiative.

Minister Pike said the new equipment would improve the diagnosis and care of children.

‘The Government gives a high priority to the provision of modern medical equipment to diagnose and treat children at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

‘Last year, the Government provided $460,000 to the hospital for neonatal intensive care equipment.

‘The Government has also contributed $6 million to redevelop the Cancer Ward at the hospital.

‘This includes an upgrade of the ward together with improved facilities for families,’ she said.