SA Health loses top executive in bombshell resignation for plum job

SA Health will launch an immediate search for a replacement after one of its top executives suddenly quit for an Olympics-related job, amid record ramping and hospital upgrades.

SA Health is reeling from the bombshell resignation of Flinders Medical Centre boss Professor Kerrie Freeman to take up the job of chief executive of the Brisbane City Council as it heads towards hosting the 2032 Olympics.

Prof Freeman is chief executive of the huge Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) which also takes in Noarlunga Hospital and the Repat precinct.

She will stay until December 15 as officials scramble to launch “an immediate search” for a replacement which carries a lucrative salary but onerous responsibilities.

Her departure after being appointed in July 2022 comes as SA Health wrestles with record ramping and also a massive construction program in SALHN hospitals as the government tries to fulfil its core election promise to “fix” ramping.

Health Minister Chris Picton said he understood Dr Freeman’s decision as it is a big promotion and will allow her to spend more time with her family and baby granddaughter in Brisbane.

Professor Kerrie Freeman is set to become the chief executive of the Brisbane City Council as it heads towards hosting the 2032 Olympics. Picture: Supplied

“It is a testament to Kerrie’s intellect and leadership that she has been headhunted for the biggest local government job in the country,” he said.

“Brisbane City Council is the largest local government in Australia representing 1.3 million people and with an annual budget of over $4 billion.

“They have seen in Kerrie what we have: someone who lives and breathes her work, and is passionate about making sure government services provide for people who need them.

“She’s not a CEO who sits in an office – for over two years she’s been getting her hands dirty, getting involved in every aspect of the southern hospitals – sometimes helping on the floor into the early hours of the morning.

“Under her leadership we have designed and started work on the biggest upgrades to Flinders Medical Centre and Noarlunga Hospital in their history – which will set the South up for hundreds of extra hospital beds for the growing population. It is an incredible legacy which will last for decades to come.”

The Brisbane job is expected to be ratified on Tuesday.

In a letter advising staff of the news, SALHN governing board chair Mark Butcher said he was proud of Prof Freeman’s record and expects her new job to be ratified on Tuesday by the Brisbane City Council.

“Whilst it is with some sadness Kerrie will be leaving us, on behalf of SALHN’s Governing Board, we are thrilled for Kerrie and know that Brisbane City Council will be in good hands in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics,” his letter states.

“During her time with us Kerrie has challenged us to think differently about how we can provide more care for the southern community, which has resulted in a significant uplift in activity and our ability to respond to our communities’ health needs.

“Through Kerrie’s leadership, we have significantly progressed our agenda to provide timely access to quality care, by investing in and growing our workforce, redesigning our processes, and increasing capacity.

“Kerrie’s drive to fast track 20 beds, by converting the former corporate office space as part of the Southern Redevelopment to open the Marjorie Tripp ward ahead of time and on budget, is but one of many examples to her commitment to put the communities’ health needs first.

SALHN had a revolving door in its leadership ranks for years before Dr Kerrie Freeman’s arrival, and more than half of its executive team has left since she took the job.

Prior to Dr Freeman’s appointment, from a senior Queensland health job, former SALHN chief executive Susan O’Neill resigned abruptly in May 2021.

Her position was filled on an interim basis by chief operating officer David Morris, but he went to a new job and chief financial officer Wayne Gadd became acting chief executive.

Sarah Woon became acting chief operating officer, John O’Connor joined as acting chief finance officer, then Matt Rooney became acting chief finance officer, and Helen Tedesco was acting executive director of governance — making all the top jobs acting positions at that time.

Ms Tedesco, Ms Woon and also the Covid operations officer on the executive team, Sarah McRea, all subsequently resigned.

In the wider SA Health workforce of around 40,000, top executives who have left in the past few years include David Place as chief executive of the SA Ambulance Service.