Bombshell: Qld’s new CHO Krispin Hajkowicz bows out days before planned handover
Queensland is without a permanent chief health officer following the shock resignation of Krispin Hijkowicz, who was due to take over the role on Monday.
QLD Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Queensland is without a permanent chief health officer and the government is scrambling for a replacement just weeks out from the state throwing open its borders following the shock resignation of Krispin Hajkowicz.
Current chief health officer Jeannette Young will be sworn in as Governor on Monday leaving the job to one of her deputies as the state marches towards one of the most critical moments of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon the Health Minister Yvette D’Ath confirmed Dr Hajkowicz would no longer be taking up the position for personal reasons.
Deputy CHO Peter Aitken will act in the role until a permanent replacement is appointed.
Ms D’Ath said she respected Dr Hajkowicz’ decision and his request for privacy.
As Dr Young, 58, moves on as the new Queensland Governor, Hajkowicz, who is a 45-year-old father of three boys, was primed to lead the state through the next phase of the pandemic – managing the Covid virus at the time when borders open.
He was hailed as “the perfect person” by Dr Young.
At his appointment he said: “It’s going to be very hard to follow in the footsteps of Dr Young”.
News he won’t take up the role comes a shock just three days out from Dr Young moving on.
It’s understood Dr Hajkowicz had been away from work this week.
Queensland Health director-general Dr John Wakefield sent an email to employees with the latest news.
“Unfortunately, due to personal reasons, Dr Hajkowicz has advised me that he will no longer be taking up the position as Chief Health Officer – I wish Dr Hajkowicz all the best and I would like thank him for his guidance over these past weeks,” he wrote.
“Work is underway to fill the role permanently and I will provide you with further updates as they are available.
“Over recent months you will have seen more involvement from the Deputy Chief Health Officers as we have responded to COVID-19, and I would like to thank Dr Aitken, Dr McKinlay and Dr Smith for their ongoing work.
“Deputy Chief Health Officer, Dr Peter Aitken, will take on the role as Chief Health Officer on an interim basis from 1 November.
“With his extensive experience as an Emergency Physician and his long history in disaster health management, Queensland Health will continue to have a first-class response to COVID-19 and the vaccination rollout with Dr Aitken at the helm.
“I would like to thank Dr Aitken for stepping into the role to guide Queensland Health through this next phase of the pandemic, and we will look to identify a suitable replacement for Dr Aitken, to support the work of the other Deputy Chief Health Officers during this time.”
Health authorities had planned to have a comprehensive transition period from Dr Young and the new CHO but even then, Infectious disease expert Paul Griffin believed the new CHO would have to upskill fast.
“Dr Young had a long time in the role before being hit with the pandemic. We are heading into a very challenging transition. When borders open there will need to be a lot of planning and preparation for an overload on a health system already at capacity. Transitioning into this next phase will need expertise,” he said.
It’s uncertain as to whether Dr Hajkowicz will remain in his current role as director of infectious diseases at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Dr Hajkowicz won widespread praise from pandemic experts ahead of the Queensland Government’s decision to appoint the frontline infectious disease doctor to the chief health officer role.
Dr Hajkowicz recently received an Excellence in Leadership award at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital’s for his calm and supportive manner in educating staff during the pandemic.
He is an amiable medic who successfully ran one of the first vaccination hubs in the state at the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital.
He studied medicine at the University of Queensland, graduating in 1999 and was the founder of the Queensland Statewide Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.
More to come.
Join the conversation
Australian-first dual vaccine to win over the hesitant, compromised
A combined Covid-19 and influenza vaccine is being trialled in Queensland in the hope it will protect people who otherwise cannot have, or are hesitant about, another type.
Read more
‘The biggest public health threat of our times’
Experts say instances of self harm linked to social media use are at virus epidemic levels, labelling it “the biggest public health threat of our times”.
Read more