Traeger MP and KAP leader Robbie Katter says the appointment of an administrator to head the North West Hospital and Health service is a smokescreen for the real issue.
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On Friday Health Minister Yvette D'Ath appointed former Queensland Health Director-General Michael Walsh as Administrator in place of the NWHHS Board.
Ms D'Ath said all vacancies, including the position of Chair, were unable to be filled in a recruitment process and remaining board members either resigned or were dismissed following the show cause notice issued May 19 with concerns had been raised around sustainable governance and financial management at NWHHS.
Following the show cause notice Mr Katter said the problems were caused by underfunding not board mismanagement,
Speaking to media Monday Mr Katter said the real problem was there not enough money to provide the services the North West requires.
"It is a disgrace that we don't have mental health in-patients and we only have 10 dialysis chairs, it makes me really angry," Mr Katter said.
"That is not a function of the board or the executive level at the hospital, that is purely lack of funding but rather than fix the problem the government has merely changed governance."
Mr Katter said decisions would now be done by bureaucrats not local people.
He also praised the contribution of the outgoing board.
"People like Dr Don Bowley OAM, Paul Woodhouse (board chair for almost a decade), Karen Read financial controller at Mount Isa Mines now chair of Queensland Country Bank, Dr Chris Appleby involved in rural practice for 20 year in the North West - there is plenty of competence there," he said.
The North West Star has contacted Ms D'Ath's office for comment.
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