Mackay Hospital and Health Service board sacked, administrator appointed

The entire board of a beleaguered Queensland hospital has been sacked amid allegations of a toxic culture, with Health Minister Yvette D’Ath backflipping on her previous support of the team.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has defended sacking the entire board of the Mackay Base Hospital, saying she doesn’t believe they had the skill set needed to implement sweeping cultural change.

Ms D’Ath sacked the entire board after it was found inadequate care led to botched surgeries and the deaths of babies.

She had previously thrown her support behind the Mackay Hospital Health and Services board members claiming they had a “proven record” months after an investigation was launched into horror obstetric complaints.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D'Ath. Picture: Liam Kidston

But Ms D’Ath today said while she was “mindful of providing procedural fairness to the board”, she didn’t think there was enough “willingness and acknowledgment” of what could have been done and should have been done.

“Not enough work (was) being done to deal with any systemic issues leading up to what the report showed from 2019 to 2021, and to recognise the problems across the leadership and the need for cultural change across the hospital.

“As individuals, they’re absolutely committed to their communities, they wanted to do the right thing, what has happened hasn’t happened out of malice but the fact is it did happen, and it did happen under their watch.”

Ms D’Ath said she had “personally apologised” for what had gone on at Mackay Hospital.

“I have ensured that we have taken strong action in issuing the show cause, we have had doctors suspended and removed from the hospital, we have an interim chief executive and now we will have a new board coming in.

“I think the public expect us to do everything possible to make sure they can have confidence in their hospital and in their health service going forward, and I need to make sure I’ve got the best board with the skills needed to do that work.”

In March this year, Ms D’Ath said board members would be reappointed for another term.

“The current members had a proven record as board members and would continue to join continuing members … to ensure the ongoing delivery of excellent health services to Mackay residents” she said in a statement.

Today, Ms D’Ath said she was “not satisfied that the Board is able to implement the recommendations of the report, including the cultural change needed” across the hospital.

The report was ordered in October 2021 after a string of women lodged complaints following caesarean complications.

MHHS confirmed it had received the final report into the department on September 8.

Ms D’Ath gave the MHHS board a show cause notice on September 30 after officially handing down the independent report, which revealed allegations of a toxic workplace, “systemic” failures and how at least three times inadequate care was allegedly a factor in the death of babies.

The board was given until November 4 to respond.

Ms D’Ath on Monday confirmed she had dismissed the entire MHHS board that day and appointed experienced health administrator Karen Roach as administrator, effective immediately.

“Governor in Council has, on my recommendation, dismissed all the members of the Board under section 275(1) of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011,” she said.

“I made that recommendation to the Governor in Council because I was satisfied it is in the public interest that all members of the Board be dismissed.”

Yvette D’Ath has sacked the entire MHHS board. Picture: Liam Kidston

Minister D’Ath said Ms Roach had more than 35 years experience in management and leadership positions in health organisations in the public and private sectors.

“Ms Roach has served as interim chief operating officer of Metro South and Sunshine Coast HHSs and interim chief executive of Townsville HHS,” she said.

“She has qualifications in nursing and midwifery and was awarded a Centenary of Australia Award for services to nursing and health services in Queensland.

“The skills Ms Roach brings to this role will be crucial in restoring confidence in the Mackay Hospital.

“I’m confident Ms Roach will work well with Special Adviser Dr Robert Herkes and the hardworking staff on Mackay HHS to deliver improved services.”

Meanwhile, Opposition health spokesman Ros Bates has come out swinging against the Minister, calling for her resignation and slamming the way she went about sacking the hospital board.

“The timing of the announcement is dripping in arrogance,” she said.

“Despite having show cause notices for weeks, yesterday Yvette D’Ath rushed through an extraordinary meeting with the Governor, on the very same day the failings of the Palaszczuk government were exposed in another damning report.

“In a feeble attempt to break a media cycle, the Health Minister puts out a media release at 6.30am the very next day.

“This announcement could have been made at any other time but the Palaszczuk Government chose that very moment.

Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates during a news conference at state parliament, Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“It is calculated and underhanded.”

Ms Bates called for the Minister to be sacked and

“If the Premier values transparency and believes in accountability then there is no way the Health Minister can keep her job,” she said.

“Why won’t the Premier listen to the mothers of Mackay who have called for the Minister to go?

“Why don’t their voices matter?

“You can now add the calculated, underhanded and arrogant timing of today’s announcement to the list of reasons why Yvette D’Ath should be sacked.”

Minister D’Ath has rejected Ms Bates’ assessment.

“The LNP complain when they think I am acting too slow, they complain when I am allegedly acting too fast, the fact is the LNP just complain,” she said.

“That is all they do.”

“I am getting on with my job.”

The Minister said she made her decision to sack the board late last week and took the decision to Cabinet yesterday morning.

She advised the board members of her decision late yesterday afternoon.

The Minister acknowledged the statewide health system needed to be reformed.

“The culture has got to change,” she said.

“It is not acceptable that staff feel like they can’t speak up.”

“And patients need to be heard and listened to.”

Originally published as Mackay Hospital and Health Service board sacked, administrator appointed