HOSPITAL BOSS GONE

Barwon Health head leaves after short, tumultuous tenure

BARWON Health CEO Professor Belinda Moyes has resigned effective immediately after a brief and eventful tenure.

Prof Moyes’ 10 months in the top job was marred by her involvement in South Australia’s chemotherapy underdosing scandal at her previous job, and incidents of inadequate supervision at Geelong’s mental health service.

In November, Mental Health Minister Martin Foley voiced his concern for patient safety, criticising Barwon Health for “inadequate practices and procedures” within the hospital’s mental health service.

It followed an alleged sexual assault in a seclusion suite of the Swanston Centre, leading to a safety audit by the Chief Psychiatrist which uncovered “serious deficiencies” relating to the care model, oversight and use of seclusion.

Ms Moyes is departing to take up a senior advisory role in the Department of Health and Human Services as a strategic advisor on National Workforce Reform.

Asked if Prof Moyes’ involvement in the chemotherapy underdosing scandal in Adelaide had been a factor in her resignation, Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said “absolutely not”, citing that she was “approached” by the department to take on the new job.

Ms Bibby said the board and staff were notified yesterday and Prof Moyes’ departure was effective immediately “given the importance of her new role”.

Since joining the organisation in July last year, Prof Moyes is credited with taking the organisation from a $13.8 million deficit into an expected break-even budget.

Ms Bibby said Prof Moyes’ reign would be characterised by “positive changes”.

“Restructuring the organisation to embed clinical leadership, banning smoking in the Swanston Centre, and overseeing record levels of activity, including an improvement in the Emergency Access Target of 6 per cent,” she said.

“Prof Moyes’ legacy as CEO will be known as a time of committed, exceptional clinical leadership of our organisation, embodied by quality of safety and care to patients.”

State Government spokeswoman Hayley McNaughton thanked Prof Moyes for her contribution to Barwon Health during a “difficult” time for the organisation.

“The Geelong community can be assured that our focus in on working with the health service to overcome these challenges, and to continue to invest in and support Barwon Health to provide the very best care for local families,” she said.

Western Health CEO Associate Professor Alex Cockram has been announced as interim CEO.