A temporary boss of Canberra Hospital has been appointed after the sudden departure of the government's first pick.
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Victorian health bureaucrat Bernadette McDonald will serve as interim chief executive officer of the new Health Services organisation, which will oversee Canberra Hospital and all public clinical health services in the ACT.
Ms McDonald has been given the top job less than two weeks before ACT Health splits into two organisations on October 1; one focussing on clinical operations and the other on policy and governance.
She has been appointed to the role for six months, pending finalisation of a long-term recruitment process.
Ms Fitzharris said Ms McDonald had been head-hunted for the chief executive role earlier in the year but wasn't available.
“In terms of Janet Anderson not being able to take up the role, that was really unexpected and unfortunate but yes we have returned to our original recruitment earlier in the year and yes very confident with the recruitment process this time and I’m really excited about Bernadette starting here next week and being with the organisation from its very first day," Ms Fitzharris said.
The minister could not say whether Ms McDonald would apply to permanently fill the role, but that she would start next week ready for the new organisation to go live on October 1.
“The interim position is for six months to provide certainty to the organisation as it starts while we finalise the permanent recruitment and I will have more detail on that over the next couple of months. My priority at this point was that we would identify a well-regarded health leader to fill the role from October 1 and that’s exactly what we’ve found in Bernadette McDonald," Ms Fitzharris said.
Ms Fitzharris said she was looking forward to working with Ms McDonald and the leadership team to continue to deliver quality health care to the Canberra community.
Ms McDonald is a former deputy chief executive officer and acting chief executive officer of Austin Health in Victoria.
She has hospital, health services, policy development and program management background and has occupied senior roles in Victorian hospitals and in the Victorian Health and Human Services Department.
Ms McDonald has a Bachelor of Nursing, a Masters of Health Administration, post graduate diplomas in health services and health systems management, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
"We’re really thrilled to welcome her to Canberra, she has very strong track record of running regional and large tertiary hospitals in Victoria,' Ms Fitzharris said.
"She brings strong health leadership, a background as a nurse, a real commitment to leadership, partnership and workplace culture as well as a deep understanding of high quality safe clinical healthcare delivery so we’re really looking forward to welcoming her.
"I know it’s really important for ACT Health staff, particularly those in Canberra Health Services to be able to have a leader in place on October 1.
"Ms McDonald will play a key role in ensuring a smooth transition process for the organisation.
“Ahead of the separation of ACT Health next month, I am pleased that the leadership roles for our ACT public health system are now in place."
