RBWH staff confront Metro North Health Service board at meeting

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HUNDREDS of staff at Queensland’s largest hospital have confronted their board en masse today, expressing concerns about unstable leadership at the facility.

Queensland Health director-general Ian Maynard was in the audience during the showdown between Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital staff and the Metro North Hospital and Health Service board.

Unrest at the hospital has been simmering for months, but the abrupt departure on October 20 of RBWH executive director Keshwar Baboolal triggered a series of high-level meetings to discuss a leadership void in the Metro North health district.

About 20 executives have either resigned, been sacked or suspended since the board took over more than two years ago, and 13 senior positions remain vacant.

RBWH Medical Staff Association chairwoman Dana Wainwright addressed today’s meeting at the hospital’s education centre auditorium, but would not comment when contacted about the outcome.

Other speakers talked about pressures on workloads in trying to meet “unachievable” government targets, and the damage to research partnerships by frequent changes in leadership at the top level of the hospital.

Queensland Nurses Union secretary Beth Mohle did not attend the meeting but was briefed about the forum by RBWH members.

“Staff are concerned about the lack of leadership and the pace of change,” Ms Mohle said.

“Our members are calling for better engagement from the board and a plan to address the leadership vacuum, to decrease the pace of change and address the unsustainable workloads and unachievable targets.”

Metro Health acting chairman Vaughan Howell said the board, executive staff and clinical representatives had agreed to work collectively on addressing concerns regarding the recent leadership changes.

“We are firmly committed to resolving these concerns so we can all focus on what is important to us all — working together towards better patient outcomes,” he said.

Source: Courier Mail