UPDATE: Gold Coast Health’s chief executive says serious allegations of fraud have nothing to do with the hospital’s “clinical care” or “quality and safety” of their service.

Ron Calvert this morning said the seven cardiology staff from Gold Coast University Hospital had been stood down with pay and, out of those, five were doctors.

Mr Calvert said the hospital would do their best to “minimise disruption to patients” in the next few weeks while the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) decides whether to investigate or not.

“I’m very pleased from the response we’ve had from the cardiology community as a whole,” he said.

“We’ve had offers of support from Brisbane, we’ve got good relationships with our local private hospital

“Some of our own staff have come back from annual leave... from the private sector as well.

“We are still providing a high quality emergency service for anythign that may crop up.

“I can’t say that elective services, like out-patients, will not be affected by this.”

A CCC spokesman confirmed they had received a notification from the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service.

“The CCC will assess this matter in accordance with its standard processes,” he said.

“It is important to note that an assessment is not an investigation.

“When the CCC receives information or a complaint it first conducts an assessment to determine whether the matter falls within the CCC’s jurisdiction, whether an investigation is warranted, and, if so, which agency should be responsible.

“It is not appropriate for the CCC to comment further while the assessment process remains ongoing.”

EARLIER: SEVEN staff from the cardiology unit at the Gold Coast University Hospital have been stood down and are being investigated for allegedly rorting the patient referral system of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In a shock announcement late last night, Health Minister Cameron Dick revealed the Crime and Corruption Commission had been called in to probe the allegations.

Mr Dick refused to give more details other than to say he believed it had been going on for more than a year.

The Bulletin understands it involves doctors, nurses and administration staff, who were only told of their suspensions late last night.

Staff could be brought down from Brisbane to handle scheduled appointments.

Mr Dick could not guarantee all those appointments would go ahead.

He said his preference was for Coast patients to be treated at Parklands rather than be shifted to Brisbane.

“That would be my preference — but ultimately we use all parts of the system as required including hospitals in Brisbane if they are required in the short term. But we will work through that on the weekend,” Mr Dick said.

Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (HHS) chairman Ian Langdon last night said the issue was not related to clinical practice or patient care.

“These are serious claims that may have begun well over a year ago,” Mr Langdon said.

“They will be investigated fully.”

Mr Dick said he had spoken to Mr Langdon and understood that the HHS was co-operating fully with the investigation.

“I’m very concerned by the allegations, he said. “There is no place for fraud in our health system.

“I can assure the people of the Gold Coast that we will do whatever is necessary to deliver high quality health services to them.”

It is believed the matter was first uncovered after a patient complained to the Minister’s office in an email.

A hospital source said the rort involved hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This latest Gold Coast Health scandal comes on the back of the death of a patient at the cardiac unit after delays in surgery over Christmas, a series of incidents at the maternity unit, a police investigation into a fire at Robina hospital, and allegations of patients assaulting staff at mental health units.