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.
