Doctor still waiting for police

A DOCTOR who called police to report a violent fight was still waiting two weeks later for officers to come and take statements.

A letter faxed to Queensland Police Minister Neil Roberts' office on August 31 from Dr John Robinson of Nanango, north of Brisbane, says a man came to his practice on August 20 and started a fight in which an elderly man was punched in the head.

"We later discovered that the man who started the fight had been drinking on the premises," Dr Robinson said in his letter.

"My receptionist smelt alcohol on his breath, and we later found the empty alcohol container."

The doctor's office reported the incident in a phone call to Gympie police station and was told an officer would be around to take a statement.

"We are still waiting for this to happen, two weeks later," Dr Robinson said.

"I am distressed that the police appear to have ignored violence in the community and have taken no interest in the matter.

"If the police are too busy to investigate reports of violence in Nanango, when they are properly reported, I would like to find out what it is that they do.

"To ignore a report like this, without even contacting the business, I believe, is absolutely appalling."

During question time in state parliament on Thursday, Liberal National Party frontbencher Vaughan Johnson asked Mr Roberts when police would respond to the incident.

"Minister, the police force have waited two weeks and now you've waited a day. When will someone finally respond to this report of a violent crime?" he asked.

Mr Roberts asked to see the copy of the doctor's complaint held by Mr Johnson.

He said he would follow up the matter and get back to Mr Johnson on the police response.

"Of course the police service takes assaults or incidents of that nature seriously," the minister said.

"And if there has been some oversight there, obviously I would expect an explanation as to why an appropriate response has not been given."