By JONATHON HOWARD
A WAR of words over the future of Noosa Hospital has errupted between Member for Noosa Glen Elmes and Greens candidate for Noosa Joe Shlegeris, as speculation surfaces around an early State Election.
Mr Elmes said in a press release that he was concerned when he saw claims about a future downgrading of services at Noosa Hospital made by Mr Shlegeris, so he pulled Health Minister Lawrence Springborg in to reassure Noosa residents.
Mr Shlegeris had previously slammed the State Government for cutting back on public beds at Noosa Hospital and he pointed to the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Services’ current and future health service needs document, which he says points to the Ramsay Healthcare-operated hospital as being run on a strictly private basis after the state 2020-21 funding allocations expires.
Mr Springborg has hit back at comments made by Mr Shlegeris and said that public patients would continue to access Noosa Hospital well into the future.
“The Greens candidate should hang his head in shame for spreading this nonsense,” Mr Springborg said.
“Mr Shlegeris should deal in facts and not his own misinterpretation.
“The current contract with Ramsay Health Care runs to 30 June 2020. There is absolutely no suggestion and absolutely no likelihood that services for public patients at Noosa would cease or desist after 2020 – all that is demonstrated here is the lack of knowledge by a very green, Greens candidate.
“I work extremely closely with Member for Noosa, Glen Elmes, and I have given my word that as long as the LNP government is at the helm, health services will continue to be provided and public patients at Noosa Hospital is a given,” he stated.
However, Mr Shlegeris said the forward plan presented by chairman of Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Board, Professor Paul Thomas, and chief executive of Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Kevin Hegarty, supported his claims.
Mr Shlegeris pointed to the emergency care section which revealed: “the future role of Noosa in the care of public patients is not within the scope of this plan.”
“It will be determined at a later date.”
Mr Elmes said this was the first time the community had heard from the Greens candidate.
“The claims are wrong, misleading and only serve to cause anxiety in the minds of Noosa residents,” Mr Elmes said.
“If he wants to be taken seriously, I encourage him to deal in facts only.”
