SEVEN staff from the cardiac unit at the Gold Coast University Hospital have been stood down and are being investigated for allegedly scamming hundreds of thousands of dollars from the patient referral system.
In a shock announcement late last night, Health Minister Cameron Dick revealed the Crime and Corruption Commission had been called in to probe the allegations.
Mr Dick refused to give more details other than to say he believed it had been going on for more than a year.
The Courier-Mail understands it involves doctors, nurses and administration staff, who were only told of their suspensions late last night. A hospital source said the scam involved hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It is believed staff from Brisbane will handle scheduled cardiac surgery next week, although Mr Dick could not guarantee all those surgeries would go ahead. If necessary, patients would be transferred to Brisbane.
“I cannot promise everyone will get surgery next week,” he said. “Scheduled surgery is usually not urgent, not life threatening. It will go to PA.”
He said there had been no cardiac surgery scheduled at Gold Coast University Hospital over the weekend.
Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (HHS) chairman Ian Langdon last night said the primary issues being investigated concerned potential misappropriation of funds, rather than direct harm to patients.
“These are serious claims that may have begun well over a year ago,” Mr Langdon said.
“They will be investigated fully.”
Mr Dick said he had spoken to Mr Langdon and understood that the HHS was co-operating fully with the investigation.
“I’m very concerned by the nature of the allegations, and they must be fully and properly investigated,” Mr Dick said.
It is believed the matter was first uncovered after a patient complained to the Minister’s office in an email.