Adrian Pennington: Pressure mounting for review into sudden sacking

Pressure is mounting on a Queensland health board chair to order an independent review into the controversial sacking of a CEO.

THE Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service board chair is under pressure to call for an external review of her decision to dismiss her chief executive Adrian Pennington.

Peta Jamieson terminated Mr Pennington’s contract “effective immediately” on Monday, outraging patient advocates who have organised a rally outside Bundaberg Hospital at 4pm Thursday.

Mr Pennington is understood to be “extremely fragile” since the abrupt end to his contract, worth about $450,000 a year. He had served in the job for seven years.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service chief executive officer Adrian Pennington

As chief executive of the Wide Bay HHS, he was responsible for the running of the Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Maryborough hospitals.

Health Minister Steven Miles has confirmed board member Joy Jensen has resigned in the aftermath of Mr Pennington’s sacking.

THE WIDE BAY HEALTH SAGA

● Terminated: Wide Bay Health CEO Pennington suddenly sacked

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Ms Jamieson’s predecessor as board chair Dominic Devine called on her to request Queensland Health director-general John Wakefield appoint an independent team to review her decision to dismiss Mr Pennington.

“I’m not saying that she’s done anything unlawfully, but this is not a good look publicly,” Mr Devine said.

“From a good governance perspective, I encourage the current chair to ask the director-general to organise an external review of the process.”

Mr Devine said the results of the review should then be made public.

Tensions are understood to have been high between Ms Jamieson and Mr Pennington since a social media post he made in July, which was later removed.

Adrian Pennington and Peta Jamieson

He took leave for personal reasons but since his return to work, the relationship between the pair has been further tested.

Mr Pennington’s dismissal has angered patient advocates.

Bundaberg man Gary Hondow, whose son Dallas, 11, has a rare genetic condition, said Mr Pennington had been “very patient-focused”.

“I just can’t understand how a chief executive that is exceptional in everything that he does, just instantaneously gets the sack. It boggles the mind. I think Adrian needs to be reinstated.”

Attempts to contact Ms Jamieson today have so far not been successful.

But she has previously told The Courier-Mail she had every confidence before making the decision to terminate Mr Pennington’s contract that she had the majority support of her board.

Mr Pennington is said to be ‘fragile’ since his sacking.

Ms Jamieson also said the board valued engagement with the community and she would “be happy” to meet with patient advocates to discuss their concerns about Mr Pennington’s termination.

“However, there will be some private and confidential aspects I won’t be at liberty to discuss with them,” she said.

In a statement on Wednesday, her deputy board chair Bryan Burmeister backed the decision to dismiss the chief executive.

“While some members of the community may seek to draw conclusions regarding the process and reasoning for the decision, I assure you the decision was carefully considered and one genuinely made in the best interest of our health service and our community,” Professor Burmeister said.

Attempts to contact Mr Pennington have been unsuccessful.