Bundaberg Base Hospital is the public hospital of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.
A base hospital is a regional centre that takes referrals from outlying hospitals, and concentrates specialised skills. Australia has a universal publicly funded health insurance scheme, so a 'public' hospital is one that is supported by public funds rather than by charging individual patients. There are two private hospitals in the same city.
The Hospital has an annual budget of $56 million.
Bundaberg Hospital was the scene of a political scandal, due to the 'gross negligence' of one of its surgeons, Jayant Patel. Manslaughter charges have been recommended against him, while charges of official misconduct have been levelled at the hospital's Director of Medical Services (the top-ranked doctor) and District Manager (the CEO).
Patel for the unlawful killing of three patients, and grievous bodily harm to a fourth On 29 June 2010, Jayant Patel was found guilty of the unlawful killing of three patients, and grievous bodily harm to a fourth.[1] On 1 July he was sentenced to seven years jail for his offences.[2].