A North West Queensland Mayor is frustrated that he has not been consulted by Queensland's Health Minister Yvette D'ath, despite the minister appointing an administrator to replace the local hospital service's board.
Ms D'Ath has appointed former Queensland Health director-general Michael Walsh to take over the role of administrator of the North West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS) after remaining board members resigned or were told they will be replaced.
The Mayor of Cloncurry, Greg Campbell, said he wants to speak directly to the Health Minister.
"One of the things that I just want to get from the minister, so that I have from the minister, is that there's going to be no reduction of services to our towns," Cr Campbell said.
"We have a level of service now and at a minimum we want that maintained, and there's a lot of services that need to be improved.
Financial management concern
The NWHHS services some 32,000 people in Mount Isa and its surrounds, including two Indigenous communities and the Gulf of Carpentaria
Queensland Health did not specify what issues caused the board to be axed.
In a statement the health authority said "concerns had been raised around sustainable governance and financial management at NWHHS".
There are 16 hospital and health services in Queensland, all of which are governed by boards that report to the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D'Ath.
Ms D'Ath put a show cause notice to the NWHHS board last month asking why it should not be replaced.
Lack of funding
Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said he was given notice that the administrator was going to be appointed, but was still shocked by the decision.
"I think the only concern the minister should have is that there's not enough money given to provide the services that we require," Mr Katter said.
"And that is not a result, or a function of competency, from the board or the executive level [or] the hospital, that is purely just lack of funding."
