WorkCover Queensland is to appoint a new medical advisory panel.

Customer Services Manager Alana Sparks says the state body needs to distribute referrals “more equitably” across the panel of medical professionals who assess surgery requests and provide complex claim reviews.

“We also need to increase the number of doctors in some specialties to meet demand,” she said. “Because we are seeking different services to those we currently receive and to recruit new doctors in some specialist areas in a fair and transparent manner, we are planning a selection process to appoint a new [panel].”

The selection process will start in October.