‘Doctors, ED safe’
DEPUTY Premier Jeff Seeney has confirmed no decision had been made in regards to the downgrade in services and possible closure of Moura Hospital.
"That is a decision for the board (Central Queensland Hospital and Health Board) to make," Mr Seeney said.
Cutting services, such as 24-hour medical emergency, was never under consideration, he said.
But the hospital's residential service was in need of review.
"To have 20 staff to an average of one patient a night - nobody could say that could continue indefinitely," he said.
"Something had to be done."
Mr Seeney said community advocate Jim Pearce and unions were making it difficult to organise community consultation.
"It is almost impossible to have community consultation with the unions and Jim Pearce stirring up scare campaigns."
"He is, in fact, a self-anointed expert funded by the trade unions to stir up trouble, but he cannot escape the legacy he and his former government have left.
"We will ensure that the two doctors' positions remain in Moura and, importantly, we will ensure there is always a 24-hour medical emergency response capacity available to community members."
Community advocate Jim Pearce said Mr Seeney had to stop blaming other people for the problem.
"Mr Seeney needs to realise he is in government now and he needs to stop blaming everyone else," Mr Pearce said.
"I sat in parliament for over a decade and every day he did what he has been accusing me of."
Mr Pearce said the CQHHB did not have a Moura representative.
"People on the board are focused on other areas."
The board will attend a community meeting on the future direction of health services in Moura at Kianga Memorial Hall from 7pm on Thursday, January 17.
