Member for Gaven Dr Alex Douglas MP last night questioned why Health Minister Lawrence Springborg has praised Gold Coast University Hospital CEO within 24 hours of announcing one of the biggest systemic failures in QHealth’s history.
“During my questioning at yesterday’s Estimates the Minister praised CEO Ron Calvert only hours after confirming that 48,000 x-rays went unchecked at the hospital since 2013, whilst under the watch of Mr Calvert,” Dr Douglas said
“It seems Mr Calvert is excused from any responsibility for what may have occurred when some people had coincidental secondary pathology or had what was suspected and not confirmed as a diagnosis.
“The Minister offered the praise without any prompting from a member or by questioning.
“This is a systemic failure and the CEO must bear at least some of the responsibility.
“The enquiry that was announced is unlikely to achieve much, so the Minister seems safe from exposure as well.
“According to the Minister, it’s Labor’s fault but all the evidence suggests that it has followed the removal of too many medical officers and replacing them with poorly trained clerical officers.
“The Minister had not even made himself aware of the percentages of significant findings on such films.
“This must never be a case of ‘what I can’t see will never hurt me.’ It’s too hit and miss.”