The North West Hospital and Health Service administrator says there will be no job losses as a result of his arrival in the role.
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On June 4 Health Minister Yvette D'Ath appointed former Queensland Health Director-General Michael Walsh as Administrator in place of the North West Hospital and Health Service Board for six months.
It came weeks after Ms D'Ath issued a show cause notice to board members with chair Paul Woodhouse resigning after 10 years service.
And though Robbie Katter said the real problem was there not enough money to provide the services the North West requires, Mr Walsh said there was an increase for the Service in last week's state budget.
"There is no truth the budget is going down and people in the service should be confident about their jobs," Mr Walsh said.
"I signed the service agreement which accepts the budget and the budget for 21-22 goes up $7 million from $200 million (last year) to $207 million."
Mr Walsh said he was advocating to grow services not reduce them.
"North West has unique challenges with remote areas and access to renal services," he said.
"I'm already in discussions with Townville because there are people from our community who receive their haemo-dialysis there and if we can expand those services here by moving that activity - not necessarily any additional cost - but the people can receive services closer to their family.
"To do that, you've got to have buildings, clinical staff, equipment, all of that takes time but I'm commencing the push."
Mr Walsh said his role was to be a single-person board.
"The running of the health service is done by the chief executive and the managers, I look at governance and strategy," he said.
"During my time here I will hold board meetings and sub committee meetings and I will provide reports to the minister, but we will also have community engagement for people to ask any questions."
Mr Walsh said he would also lead the process to appoint a new board and at least identify all potential candidates within his six months remit.
"There will be a public process where people can put their names onto the board," he said.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
