ROBERT Miles plans to rebuild Rockhampton as a hub for health care in Central Queensland.

Mr Miles, the recently appointed chairman of Central Queensland's Hospital and Health Board, said yesterday his new committee intended to bring back regional financial management of hospitals.

However, he called for patience and understanding from the community as he guided the region to health reform.

Mr Miles was previously the executive director at the Institute for Regional Sustainable Development at the University of Queensland where he also worked as a principal consultant for the United Nations.

He said local health system managers better understood the unique issues facing their particular region than centralised, distant decision makers.

"I think that if you try to manage (health care) systems centrally, with a single brush that is painted for all, it doesn't meet tailored services that actually make a local difference," he said.

Mr Miles said the first task for the committee was to fully understand the current issues facing the health system and decide where resources could be best used to effect change.

But he conceded real, long-lasting, constructive change would take time.

"It's very early days at this stage; our feet have only just got under the table," Mr Miles said.

Mr Miles said initially the new committees would analyse the patient treatment process from admission through to discharge and after-care to see where improvements could be made.

He asked local residents to get involved in the review and assessment process.

But with a very difficult job ahead, Mr Miles said the new committee was bound to make some mistakes along the way and urged patience and understanding from the community.

"Bear with us and work with us, and together I hope that we can make a difference," he said.