Dr Gaston Boulanger met with local political identities for teleconference with Queensland Health Minister yesterday

A Gladstone doctor is calling for urgent action and says the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service has failed to provide residents with a satisfactory level of hospital care. But the health services has hit back.

Gladstone region doctor Gaston Boulanger savaged the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service and its Board chairman, claiming they had ‘failed’ residents.

Dr Boulanger, who owns the Boyne Island Tannum Sands Medical Centre, said the CQHHS had failed to provide Gladstone region residents with a satisfactory level of hospital care.

On Tuesday Dr Boulanger, Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett, Deputy Mayor Kahn Goodluck and Maxine Brush met with Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher and Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath.

“The meeting was about the Gladstone community asking the Minister to create a level four hospital and an Intensive Care Unit as soon as possible,” Mr Boulanger said.

Mr Boulanger said the rally for upgraded hospital care started a decade ago, when Rio Tinto started the Here for Health initiative.

“Despite our argument for a level four hospital, CQHHS have created a plan called ‘Destination 2030’, which clearly states they want to develop Gladstone into a ‘centre for emergency care’,” he said.

Doctor Doug Boulanger, Maxine Brush, Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett and deputy Mayor Kahn Goodluck.

“That actually meant a downgrade of the current hospital, despite what CQHHS said their services have been decreasing and specialists have been leaving the area for that reason.”

Mr Boulanger said Ms D’Ath promised to visit Gladstone within 12 weeks and review the policies surrounding a hospital upgrade.

“In my opinion the CQHHS and its (board) chairman Paul Bell has failed and I would really like to see a new chairman,” he said.

However, Steve Williamson, chief executive of CQHHS, said Gladstone Hospital already offered some level 4 services.

“Gladstone Hospital plays a vital part in the provision of health services across Central Queensland. It continues to grow and improve and now provides a wider range of specialist services than ever before,” Mr Williamson said.

“Gladstone Hospital already offers level 4 services in cardiac rehabilitation, medication, medical imaging and pathology, and level 5 services in mental health outpatients.

“The Clinical Services Capability Framework is an overall health service planning tool and its key purpose is to increase the services provided locally where it is safe to do so.

“Health service development is guided by health service planners and service delivery experts. CQ Health will be guided by expert advice in the development and delivery of services that are both safe and sustainable.”

Mr Williamson said completion of the new $42m emergency department at Gladstone Hospital reflected CQHHSs commitment to growth in health services in the city.

“The old ED was refurbished into a Specialist Outpatients Department, which opened early this year,” he said.

“Work is under way on the former Gladstone Mater Private Hospital, now named the West Wing, to create a single integrated hospital facility on the Gladstone campus.

“Works to upgrade the operating theatres and sterilisation unit are expected to be complete next year.

“Destination 2030 is our overarching strategy for the future, intended as a gradual program, with more services coming on line when it is safe and sustainable for their introduction.”

Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said the teleconference with Ms D’Ath was about how they could move the Gladstone Hospital forward.

“It was a conversation about what we are doing in Gladstone, what services are continuing to grow and how we can get the hospital to level four,” he said.

“Obviously Y’vette D’Ath is a new health minister so it was an opportunity for the local guys to have a chat between our people and hers.”

Mr Butcher conceded it was very difficult for Gladstone Hospital because there were no bulk billing doctors in the town anymore, with the surgeries that did offer bulk billing still charging money.

“The ones that do still charge money, we are seeing people having to front Gladstone Hospital rather than seeing their local GP because of the failure of the feds and their support of bulk billing in places like Gladstone, ” he said.

“How do we get people seeing their GP rather than presenting them to the hospital when it's too late?”