Coming in the wake of the Four Corners revelations about allegations involving deaths at Doomadgee Hospital, visitors to the Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council March meeting included administrator Michael Walsh, Executive Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Christine Mann, Executive Director Nursing, Midwifery and Clinical Governance Michelle Garner and other senior executives

Mr Walsh told the meeting a new board would be set up in April and would consist of nine people. Mr Walsh said half of the board members will come from the North West and the other half will be from across the state.

He also advised his own role would end once the board was appointed.

The Council told the NWHHS representatives the North West has a very high indigenous population and they have been left out of the board.

"Would have been good to see that proper representation (cultural etc) had not been addressed," Council said in its March meeting minutes.

"People in Doomadgee will not go to the hospital because of what has happened previously. Need to pull everyone together for a future meeting where the Council, Councillors, Health Commission and the Community are involved. The Hospital needs to embrace the Community and get to know the people."

The meeting heard Normanton, Burketown and Doomadgee all have the same health services that are being delivered in the same way however they are all very different and these issues need to be taken into account for each town.

"The Board will need to hear what we want from the Health Service so that they can be able to respond," Council said.

"You cannot second guess health so all issues need to be dealt with."

Council spoke of the bars on the doors at the Doomadgee hospital and Mr Walsh replied the bars are in all hospitals to protect the staff from people seeking help who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or are violent.

Mr Walsh told Council he wanted to open up the waiting area at the hospital as it was not a very inviting place and needs to be homely and if patients are waiting for a while to be seen, offer them tea, coffee and biscuits to make them feel welcomed and respected.

Mr Walsh said the NWHHS were working with Gidgee Healing and see what can be done to help them out however Gidgee's CEO Renee Blackman was was finishing up in April and they did not know who her replacement was.

Christine Mann advised that Gidgee is very involved in the Health Equity process but a doctor for Doomadgee was needed.

The meeting heard telehealth and video health has been a great win for Doomadgee due to COVID as people do not have to leave the community for their visits with specialists.

The Community needs to make sure that it does not lose this service once COVID has slowed down, Council said.

The NWHHS team spoke of the wearable devices that are available to monitor patients blood levels without having to be in hospital.

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