July 23, 2015
Kingaroy businessman Michael Brown this week put up his hand to run for South Burnett mayor… partly out of frustration that he believes his plan for the future of the South Burnett Private Hospital has been ignored by Council, and partly because he says he could do a better job.
Michael, a former truck driver, owns and manages the Glendon St Medical Centre which is located adjacent to the private hospital.
He and his wife Veronica took over the practice as a direct result of Michael’s own experiences with the medical system.
Exactly seven years ago he was badly injured in a head-on truck smash on the Bruce Highway. Michael suffered head and arm injuries and a collapsed lung.
After a long period recuperating in hospital, Michael came back home to Inverlaw to find he had no chance of getting in to see a GP.
A chance meeting on a plane with the operators of a medical practice in Victoria inspired him to do something for the South Burnett.
When he took over Dr Peter Wynn’s former practice – there was another operator in between – he was told by Queensland Health that 60 per cent of South Burnett residents did not have a regular GP.
“For three years I have been helping the community with this practice,” he told southburnett.com.au this week.
He now has “thousands” of patients on his books.
Glendon St Medical Centre has six GPs available but only has space in its building – a converted Queenslander owned by the South Burnett Regional Council – to fit two at any one time.
Michael said he had also been approached by a fertility specialist who wanted to set up in Kingaroy, but he has no suitable area available.
He says he tried to advance his plan for the Private Hospital “through the normal channels” but had now decided to take it public.
His idea was to establish a not-for-profit organisation to take over his medical practice, relocate it into the Private Hospital building and encourage as many of the previous specialists as possible to maintain their rooms.
He had also spoken to an interested operator to run a day-surgery, and was also investigating respite care, providing mental health services and perhaps even an hospice.
“Straight after the May 15 meeting with Pulse (when the hospital closure was announced), I approached (Pulse Health CEO) Phillipa Blakey to try to maintain the services,” Michael said.
“She said she would work with anyone. Straight after that (May 22) I went to Council through the Economic Development Manager (Phil Harding).”
Michael drafted an initial proposal for future use of the hospital building which included four GP consulting rooms, two treatment rooms and an option to deliver palliative care.
He says he submitted this proposal to Council’s Economic Development Department as requested. However, he says he was shocked to discover when chatting to councillors at a KCCI Meet’n’Greet that they had no knowledge of the submission.
And he was angry when he heard Mayor Wayne Kratzmann say no one had been prepared to come forward to give Council “a solution”.
He tried to arrange a meeting with the Mayor was but was told by Mr Harding to “talk to me” instead.
The current campaign to “save our hospital” has him puzzled.
Michael believes there is no chance any operator will take over the running because it is not profitable, and hasn’t been since St Aubyns closed.
And he claims he was told back on June 17 by Council the hospital was “dead in the water” which is why he drafted his proposal.
He also believes Mayor Wayne Kratzmann’s speech at last week’s Council meeting had insulted many people in the health industry, including GPs, QML “and me”.
Michael admits he has had no Local Government experience but says he comes from a business background and has an accounting degree and a graduate certificate in health industry management.
“(My wife) Veronica and I have poured our heart and soul and many thousands of dollars into our business to initially keep it open and subsequently grow it,” he said.
“We have a vision for future primary and allied health care services being delivered in the way rural communities need them; we are passionate about caring for the people of this community and we see how great this area can be again if the right mix of businesses are encouraged to support our existing businesses and stimulate growth …
“That’s why I am running for Mayor – because I want everyone in this community to back themselves, have vision and have opportunities and I’m leading by example.”
[UPDATED with correction. An earlier version said Mr Brown approached Council after the hospital closure, when in fact it was after the hospital closure was announced]
* * *
This isn’t the first time that Michael Brown feels he has been let down by Council.
When he took over the practice three years ago he says he approached the Mayor for assistance. He says he was initially told yes, but then “no” because his business was a registered company.
He says he was then stunned to see Council handing over money to Brisbane Bus Lines, another registered company.
And he has a long list of items that he wants Council, as his landlord, to repair on his Glendon Street building.
He says the building is in urgent need of repairs, and has launched his own petition to this effect which has about 270 signatures.
* * *
South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann denied this afternoon that Michael Brown’s proposal had been ignored by Council.
He said Council was concentrating for the moment on finding an operator to take over the whole private hospital operation.
If that failed, then other uses for the building would be considered, including the proposal submitted by the Glendon St Medical Centre.
Michael, you are a a breath of fresh air but I fear you will be subject to some backlash from incumbent “powers that be” who wish the status quo to remain.
Big plus to Michael and his efforts. I refused to sign the petition for the retention of the “Private Hospital” for the benefit of a few and also because of Mr Kratzmann’s insulting comments regarding our public hospital, mainly “the Mayor said the demise of the hospital had been largely caused by Kingaroy’s public hospital poaching the private hospital’s clients in order to ‘bump up its figures’ and put pressure on the State Government to build a new public hospital in the region.” Really where does he get the facts from that the Public Hospital is poaching. If Mr Kratzmann put as much effort into getting us a new Public Hospital as he is trying to retain a dead business case in the Private Hospital maybe we would have a new Public Hospital with better services.
A single-issue candidate with no local government experience who doesn’t see a conflict of interest about running for Mayor while wanting to expand his business? I’d give it an A-minus as a publicity stunt.
Thanks Rod I have only just announced my Mayor intentions so it is the first issue I wish to address because I see what will happen.
I really want to say I 1000% want to expand my business because unlike a retail business or a competition based business the business I run is about helping people get primary healthcare.
I can really feel for Mayor Kratzmann because 3 years ago I did the same thing he is doing. I went to council (him) to get assistance to keep this surgery open. I went to Deb Frecklington for assistance and I went to the General Hospital for their assistance. I got the same answers the Mayor has received.
I have been through the sleepless nights and the contemplation of quitting. However Rod this might explain the situation to you. I was told that 60% of the South Burnett did not have a regular GP to see. This and my own experience made me start my business with my money to help our community.
If my business was about making money for me then I would not have started a not for profit entity to take it over. My education in health, both by running a business and actual post graduate study is where I am coming from. I see a need for services like more GP and mental health as a greater demand and a better use of a council asset.
I believe in a the fact that a person does great things at the intersection of their 2 core values. For me it is Business and Helping people. If I just done business then I would still be successful but I would not be at full potential. If I only had compassion then I also would not be at full capacity.
I agree with Richard that the mayor’s efforts are miss directed and should be about the Kingaroy General Hospital.
Michael
Great idea. I am amazed that no one else has come up with this idea. Maybe they have and been ignored by the Mayor, Councillors and their (non) Economic Development Department. The council is wasting money, time and energy trying to hold on to the past when it clearly is not viable. The previous council should have never bought the building and now they are trying to save some credibility by trying to find a new tenant. Why should ratepayers fund council staff to encourage the public to sign a useless petition?
However, Michael don’t waste your time running for Mayor. The community needs more successful businesses than good Mayors. If you can make this work, the South Burnett residents will still have access to medical specialists, you will make a profit and will more likely spend this locally. Unlike the previous tenants or a future tenant that would take all the profits out of the South Burnett. In an ideal world the council would then sell the building and concentrate on what they should be doing, such as roads, water and waste.
Concerned Ratepayer
I think Michael should be encouraged in his efforts and decision to run for Mayor. The job of Mayor is not an easy one and I think anyone that is prepared to make such a commitment to a job should be encouraged even more so if he or she has had no previous local government experience, in my opinion all levels of government would be better served to have elected officials that have life experience in multiple areas and aren’t career politicians.
Perhaps southburnett.com.au could do a follow up piece and look at an alternative title for this article? It really gave me no information on Michael as a candidate but was simply a story about his position in relation to the current problems with the Private Hospital. While interesting and offering a different perspective – this article would not give Michael my vote due to the lack of any other information.
There’s a long way to go before the next Council elections. I assure you that between now and then we will be doing many more reports on the candidates who throw their hats into the ring.
With nearly 9000 signatures in support of the private hospital this guy is already out of step with around one quarter of the people he seeks to represent.
How about giving us your name, Mr Council Watcher. Your comments virtually have no bearing when you fail to tell us who you really are.
The signature numbers were quite outstanding and you must remember that dedicated folk worked overtime throughout the region in a desperate plea to have the South Burnett private hospital reopened with hospital providers.
You talk about numbers however your statistics of around one quarter includes children as well. The adults figure is more like one-third which represents a great result.
There appears to be a chance of some four vacancies for next year’s Council election. Maybe we could have you as a candidate and then we would know who Mr Council Watcher is!
Of course you don’t have this non-de-plume situation on your own, judging by the various other pars submitted.
Keith, I am supporting the actions of yourself and your son with the private hospital by asking how someone could run for Mayor declaring to be against one-quarter of the people he seeks to represent.
So let me get this straight – this man comes to Council with a proposal to run the hospital as a large GP clinic with some sideline specialists like fertility. The Council is trying as hard as it can to keep the hospital going as is, where is and he has the gall to attack Council because it wants to wait and see what happens with the hospital first before committing to anything with him. This so outraged him that he wants to run for Mayor.
Does he not see all the empty shops in town just waiting for tenants? Why not get behind the activity to keep the hospital going and set up his facility in the CBD in an empty shop? That way we get the benefit of his activity and the hospital staying open.
This man does not inspire me with his business acumen that is for sure if he is simply waiting for the hospital to fall over to pounce. Sounds to me like he will have a major conflict of interest if he is elected Mayor.
Ray, So you can have it clearer.
First we were told on the 15th of May that the hospital will close on the 30th of June (at the time there was no 3 month licence extension).
We were told our medical centre was earmarked to go into the hospital building due to the state of our current council owned building. This idea was confirmed to me by 2 separate sources.
We offered to help in any way we could to keep the hospital open and were told it was “dead in the water”. We offered our assistance to help at least keep the visiting specialists coming.
I immediately thought it was disappointing because if Pulse Health a very experienced operator cannot get it to work then who can?
I knew it was not being utilised for a long while even last year as I had heard things like there were only 2 patients in the whole building. This is a massive warning when I would think 2 patients could not cover the wage of 1 nurse let alone the whole hospital operation.
So we approached council with an idea on how we could possibly help. We were then asked to submit a proposal which we did on the 22nd of May. So no I was not waiting to pounce I was trying to help.
My point is I offered to help before the hospital closed. I did show compassion. I was told at the time it was not able to be saved. I was told one thing and I worked with it with a solution for the whole South Burnett community.
After they received the 3 month extension they obviously wanted to keep trying to get another operator.
I get that. I wanted that. too.
However I heard the speech from the last council meeting and I thought how do you expect everyone to act when you insult them all? I got offended for all that were insulted.
Finally, I would like to say congratulations people of the South Burnett. you have really got behind this campaign and done a fantastic job.
No one can say that the South Burnett doesn’t have a community spirit!!
That’s part of why I want to run for Mayor!