The new provider of medical imaging services in central Queensland says the contract will allow an expansion throughout the region.
CQ Radiology has been awarded the right to provide services such as X-rays, CT scans and ultrasound.
Geoff Clark says it will be able to offer 24-hour services at Rockhampton and extra services in hospitals such as Gladstone, Emerald and Biloela.
“I think that our company can provide, using quite good innovation and I suppose more efficient techniques with highly trained radiologists, we’ll be able to provide increased services and in terms of availability and accessibility to the patient and at the end of the day that’s what we’re here for, to help the patients,” he said.
Mr Clark says existing Queensland Health staff will transfer to CQ Radiology and no jobs will be lost.
He says more staff will be needed to cater for expanded services.
“To do the training, the work that’s required by medical imaging, we value those people quite high,” he said.
“They help you do your job, provide the service to the patients so you don’t want to give up those type of people easily.
“The one thing I have realised being in central Queensland is it is difficult to retain staff and from my point of view it’s important to spend time training and educating them to try and stay here.”
Grant Burton from the Queensland Nurses Union says the guarantee of no job losses only applies to nursing positions.
“It’s nice to guarantee that but unfortunately in regards to some of the radiography positions that’s probably not the case,” he said.
“There might be a couple of jobs there that people will not have in the future.”
However, Len Richards from the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service says an expansion of services means more jobs will be needed.