40 health staff face redundancy as Central Queensland outsources diagnostic imaging

NEEDING medical imaging after hours or on weekends in Central Queensland has been painful, literally. The Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service tomorrow will put a call out for invitation of offer for the private sector to take over imaging services at Rockhampton, Gladstone, Biloela and Emerald hospitals; and expand the existing services. Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Len Richards Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Len Richards. The IoO comes after CQHHS ran a market test. Mr Richards said the test proved there were private providers willing and able to deliver expanded medical imagining services in Central Queensland. “The firms offering their services in our initial discussions say they will provide extra services including Computed Tomography (CT) at Gladstone and Emerald hospitals, ultrasound at Emerald Hospital, better interventional radiology services at Rockhampton Hospital, 24-hour on-site coverage in Rockhampton and increased on-site coverage at Gladstone Hospital.”