The Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) has called for a review of the relationship between the State Government and local hospital and health services amid corruption allegations.
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg has defended the handling of corruption allegations against two Brisbane health executives today in State Parliament.
The Opposition demanded more details about why two Metro North Health Board executives were stood aside and referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) over what the State Government said were “employment procurement issues”.
Mr Springborg said the service’s chairman, Dr Paul Alexander, recently received concerning information and launched an independent investigation.
Preliminary results were returned on Friday and chief executive Malcolm Stamp and executive director of corporate services Scott McMullen were stood aside on full pay and referred to the CCC after an extraordinary board meeting on Sunday.
QNU spokeswoman Beth Mohle said the issues raised questions about hospital management, accountability and transparency.
Ms Mohle wants a review of how the new service boards report to the State Government.
“We have got concerns about the governance arrangements for the hospital and health services,” she said.
“We think that the system is far too lax.
“Indeed government doesn’t have sufficient levers to ensure the hospital and health services are doing what government wants them to do on behalf of the taxpayers of Queensland and that is critical.”
‘Another example of jobs for the boys’
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk told Parliament the allegations should be explained.
“Given the Health Minister has said nothing more than the issue relates to employment … procurement contracts, is this just another example of jobs for the boys and contracts for mates?” she told the House.
Ms Palaszczuk also said CCC chairman Ken Levy was too close to the Government to assess allegations inside Queensland Health.
She has repeatedly called for Mr Levy to be replaced.
“This chair does not have bipartisan support. Now we have a matter referred by the health department to the CCC – this is Caesar judging Caesar,” she said.
The Together union said some bureaucrats had been recruited from overseas, with orders to cut costs in the health system.
Union secretary Alex Scott said there was a wider problem throughout the state.
“The broader issue goes to whether this Government is committed to delivering quality health care services to all Queenslanders or wants to import senior managers from overseas who are about putting dollars ahead of patients,” he said.
Labor has no right to criticise Government, Newman says
However, the Government said the matter had been dealt with promptly and properly.
Mr Springborg said it showed accountability had improved since Labor’s time in office.
“[Labor] don’t understand proper investigative processes, and when they do, they seek to cover up,” he said.
Mr Springborg said the Metro North board had shown a high standard of accountability and governance.
“Since they were formed in 2012, Queenslanders have seen hospital boards confronting difficult issues, clearing waiting lists, and fixing the legacy of past failed Labor administrations,” he said.
Premier Campbell Newman said Labor had no right to criticise the LNP’s management of the health system.
Mr Newman said his Government had a better record than Labor.
“[It is] not swept under the carpet, as in the case with the sad and tragic events up in Bundaberg several years ago,” Mr Newman told the House.
“I can point for example to Beaudesert Hospital, where you can now have a baby again. I can point to Cooktown, where you will be able to have your baby again.
“Who took away that level of service? That’s right – the Australian Labor Party.
“How can they come in here today and speak like this? It’s outrageous. They don’t care about regional Queensland.”
Investigation into Rockhampton Hospital
The Opposition has also demanded an inquiry into issues at Rockhampton Hospital.
Yesterday, it was revealed there had been investigations into 33 category one incidents at the hospital since 2011.
Rockhampton Labor MP Bill Byrne called for an independent investigation into the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.
However, Mr Newman said job cuts in Queensland Health played no part in the number of unexpected deaths and injuries at the Rockhampton Hospital.
Mr Newman told Parliament the State Government and the local health service were working hard to do a better job.
“These issues have been detected as going back quite a few years – back to [Labor’s] watch – but we’re not pushing the blame over there,” he said.
“We’re saying we will deal with it and so will the local hospital and health service, because they have been empowered with a bigger budget to do a better job.”
Source: ABC