The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane’s north. PIC: Paul Guy Source: News Corp Australia
THE head of Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital has resigned after less than three months in the job, joining a string of other senior executives to vacate their positions in the Metro North health district in the past two years.
Staff were told today by email that heart surgeon Peter Tesar had left the executive director roles of the Prince Charles, Caboolture and Kilcoy hospitals “for personal reasons”.
His departure comes less than a month after that of the executive director of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Keshwar Baboolal.
Professor Baboolal’s leaving has led to a series of emergency meetings among staff angry at the Metro North Hospital and Health Service board’s management of the service.
Board chairman Paul Alexander has been on leave during the crisis.
Former Queensland Health deputy Director-General Terry Mehan was last week brought in as Metro North’s acting CEO, replacing Kerrie Mahon who had temporarily assumed the position after the suspension on full pay of Malcolm Stamp in September.
Mr Stamp has been stood down while nepotism allegations are investigated by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Metro North staff say about 20 executives have either resigned, been sacked or suspended since the board took over in July 2012, including six in recent weeks.
Mr Mehan has called for expressions of interest among Metro North staff to act as either executive director of the Prince Charles Hospital or alternatively, the Caboolture and Kilcoy hospitals.
He said after taking advice from workers at those hospitals, a decision had been made to appoint two executive directors to fill the role Dr Tesar had been performing.
Doctors have reacted with frustration at the latest departure from Metro North’s senior executive ranks, with one describing the service as “completely rudderless”.
###