Health Minister Kim Hames has admitted “we’re not trying that hard” to find a permanent director-general for the Department of Health.
Dr Hames said 77-year-old retired neurosurgeon Bryant Stokes would continue acting in the role until at least mid next year, after the commissioning of $2 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital is complete.
And Dr Hames addressed reports about his own future, scoffing at suggestions doing the rounds that he would stand down from the demanding portfolio in October.
“We’ve got some serious hospitals to open,” he told The Weekend West. “Why would I nick off now?”
Professor Stokes, whose appointment was meant to be a stop-gap while the Government searched internationally, has already had his contract extended once, to October this year.
At least $120,000 has been spent on the search, with no appointment in sight.
Dr Hames said he was thrilled with the job Professor Stokes was doing, saying the Government did not want change at the top until the changes around Fiona Stanley Hospital were bedded down.
“We’re not trying that hard, to be honest,” he said. “I know that sounds a bit strange but we think Bryant is doing a fantastic job, and we’re pretty keen to keep him there doing that job.
“It doesn’t make a difference whether he’s an acting director or a director. He’s director in all but the word. And he’s got great respect across the industry.”
Shadow health minister Roger Cook said Dr Hames had again changed his tune on the search for a new health boss – a position expected to pay more than $600,000 a year.
“This is another admission by the Government that they don’t have any real idea about who they are going to get to fill this very important position,” Mr Cook said.
“Yes, Professor Stokes has huge respect, but there is also a big job of long-term planning that needs to be done.”
Dr Hames said Professor Stokes “might be getting on, but he’s lost none of his wits”.
“He’s got so much respect that it makes it much easier dealing with some of these difficult transitions that we’ve talked about,” he said.