By Jason Rawlins

Photo: Mr Springborg says a preliminary investigation indicates fraud is widespread within Queensland Health. (ABC TV News - file image)

Investigations are underway into claims that a medical specialist working full-time for Queensland Health has made an extra $2 million treating private patients in public facilities.

Specialists are allowed to treat private patients in public facilities, but they have to inform Queensland Health and share their fees.

The State Government says it is proof the health system is vulnerable to fraud and has vowed to stamp out the problem.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg says preliminary investigations into the claims have revealed worrying trends.

"Certainly, I think it does indicate that there's at least a problem somewhere and it doesn't surprise me," he said.

"Just after I became Minister I had a discussion with the auditor general where I raised some concerns about Queensland Health's vulnerability to particular fraud amongst employees and others.

"Certainly that is a concern which is shared at that level and what I want to do is to get to the bottom of this."

Mr Springborg says it is not an unusual for specialists working within Queensland Health to see a private patient.

"But once a particular trigger point is actually triggered, then that income is supposed to be shared and that is actually the situation which has existed for a long period of time," he said.

"The allegation here is that we've got significant undisclosed amounts of income which should have been coming back to the state."

Vulnerable to misuse

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says Queensland Health's complex payment and billing systems are vulnerable to misuse.

"One of the concerns we have is that if any doctor is caught up in an allegation of improper activity, that we absolutely ensure that all the system factors associated with their billing processes have been very thoroughly examined," said AMA Queensland president Dr Alex Markwell.

"This is a very, very complex multi-party contract quite often that relies on Queensland Health to administer the billing and reimbursement of these billings.

"I think most people would understand that there is little faith at the moment that these systems are watertight."

Dr Markwell says she has asked the State Government to hand over any information that shows specialists are rorting the system.

She says the problem should be stamped out.

"The AMA does not condone illegal activity and we certainly are not making any attempt to cover up any investigation.

"We've offered and we continue to offer to cooperate with the Government with any inquiry that takes place.

"But at this stage, without having seen any of the reports that have been referred to, it's difficult to comment on what specifically is being referred to."

Neglecting public patients?

Mr Springborg says he is concerned specialists who are treating private patients for extra cash are neglecting the public patients in the state's already overburdened hospital system.

"Indeed, if you look at the number of people that we see each year, over a million people through our emergency departments, almost 1 million in-patient bed days, several million outpatients appointments during the course of the year," he said.

"We need all resources we can being properly applied to make sure that we can meet the expectations of Queenslanders into the future."

Mr Springborg says he is considering the next step.

He is not ruling out a royal commission to investigate the claims and make sure those doing the wrong thing are punished.

"I think what we've got to do is to actually first of all identify the problem, which has been identified, show a determination to do something about it to actually now work through the best way of actually dealing with that," he said.

"Now, the auditor general in Queensland may be the appropriate person to actually get involved with his team to not only investigate this further but also to make some recommendations to actually tighten this or there may be other options available to us.

"Myself and the Premier will be considering those options no doubt over the next few days or so."

Public doctor accused of pocketing $2m - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)