The Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CQHHS) has been called into question over its handling of allegations regarding Rockhampton urologist Dr Antonio Vega Vega.
Dr Vega Vega was stood down from the Rockhampton Hospital last year after he wrongly removed a patient’s kidney.
The Medical Board of Australia re-instated his licence after the Queensland Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal found he posed no risk to patients, and he has continued working in the private sector.
But Dr Vega Vega has remained suspended from the Rockhampton Hospital pending two internal investigations.
The Supreme Court yesterday ruled those investigations invalid because they were biased and denied Dr Vega Vega natural justice.
Ashleigh Saunders from the Together Union said the CQHHS needs to explain its conduct.
“It raises questions for members about CQHHS’s internal investigations and their methods for natural justice for staff,” she said.
“It will obviously raise further questions for workers about their industrial entitlements and rights at work.”
Yesterday lawyer Stephen Keim said Dr Vega Vega was thankful for the finding and for the support of the community.
“Dr Vega Vega feels very gratified that the court have made a finding that he was not afforded natural justice by the department’s investigators and that the reports delivered to the director general are invalid,” Mr Keim said.
“Dr Vega Vega wishes to thank his family, his friends, the local medical community and the people of Rockhampton for their support through what has been a difficult ordeal.”
The Health Department is expected to release a statement later this morning.