Ian Fleming has revealed he left the Bundaberg Patient Support Group he helped form because of political comments attributed to the group’s president Beryl Crosby on Monday.

The co-founder of the group said he left because of Ms Crosby’s suggestion made in a metropolitan paper that a new health minister was needed to replace Gordon Nuttall.

“For Beryl to come out publicly and make those remarks about the minister is totally inappropriate. This is a patient support group, not a political action group,” Mr Fleming said.

Mr Nuttall met with members of the group in Bundaberg last night to discuss the information he had received about complaints made about Dr Patel.

Mrs Crosby denied the group had turned political.

“What I had said was if anyone knew (about Dr Patel) and did nothing about it they should be accountable, which is fair enough to say,” Mrs Crosby said.

“But we have just met with Gordon Nuttall and we listened to what he said and we are quite happy with that.”

Mr Fleming said he was upset over allegations he left the group because of financial reasons.

“I have not recieved one red cent for all the time I’ve put in and nor do I want any,” he said.

Mr Fleming said he also was concerned with some of the decisions made by lawyers representing victims, despite being extremely appreciative of their efforts.

But Carter Capner lawyer Ian Brown said his firm was not specifically targeting any one group.

He said the group appreciated Mr Fleming’s efforts and hoped he would contribute to the patients’ cause in the future.