Frustrated parents of young patients of a paediatrician who was arrested earlier this year are demanding greater transparency and accountability from the Sunshine Coast health service.
Tom Sun Yap had been working at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital until he was arrested and charged by federal police in May.
The 43-year-old is facing three charges of possessing and sending child abuse material.
Dr Yap faced court in June, where no plea was entered.
The matter is due back before Maroochydore Magistrates Court on September 23.
There is no suggestion of offences being committed at the hospital.
At the time of Dr Yap's first court appearance, a spokesperson for the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service said "consultant paediatricians are never alone with a patient".
"There is always a nurse, parent, or junior doctor in attendance," the spokesperson said.
But Valli Slater, who has set up an online support group, told the ABC more than a dozen parents had since contacted her to dispute the claim.
Ms Slater has 100 members in her group.
She said many of those she had spoken to only learned of Dr Yap's arrest through social media and were not informed directly by the hospital.
"Parents are rightfully angry, and we want accountability from the hospital," Ms Slater said.
"I only found out about his arrest in September … I just happened to stumble across an article about him on Facebook."
The doctor no longer works for the health service and has also been suspended indefinitely by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the Queensland Office of the Health Ombudsman.
"The hospital's method of dealing with this issue has been just to let people find out as they find out," Ms Slater said.
'You can google it'
Emma (not her real name) said her daughter had been under the care of Dr Yap for several years.
The mother said her daughter had been left alone with the paediatrician on several occasions.
The pair arrived at the hospital for an appointment in August, after the doctor's arrest, and were met by a female paediatrician instead.
"She said, 'I'm taking over. Tom Yap is no longer here'," Emma said.
"She just said to me, 'You'll be happy he's not here — you can google it'.
"These are very delicate situations that we have with our children, a lot of people go there under the biggest stressful situation … you're expecting to have someone who knows your case.
"To just be sitting down and having someone say that … it was a very thrown under the bus sort of thing."
Support offered to families
A spokesperson for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital was unable to discuss claims made by parents that Dr Yap was left alone with young patients.
"We're unable to comment on this matter while it is before the courts," the spokesperson said.
"Our aim is to support patients and their families.
"We have offered to meet with any concerned parents."
The health service has also set up a hotline for parents on (07) 5202 4200.
Ms Slater declined the offer because she said the hospital wanted to meet one-on-one or in a small group setting.
She has requested a group meeting with the hospital executive and all of the parents of Dr Yap's former patients.
"They could apologise and say, 'Hey, we're really sorry that we didn't notify you. We were unsure about what to do due to the sensitivity of the case'," Ms Slater said.
"The executives haven't responded well to our complaints and our request … they just haven't shown any compassion for why we feel the way that we feel, and because of that our trust is lost."
Court documents allege Dr Yap sent and possessed child exploitation material in April and May 2019.
He has been charged with using a carriage service to transmit child pornography material and possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage.
