Queensland Health Director-General Dr John Wakefield resigns

Queensland Health’s Director-General Dr John Wakefield has tendered his resignation after two-and-a-half years in the role in what the Opposition is calling a sign of the “deepening” health crisis.

Queensland Health’s Director-General Dr John Wakefield has tendered his resignation on Friday in what the Opposition is calling a sign of the “deepening” health crisis.

Dr Wakefield took on the role in August 2019, leading the health system through the Covid-19 pandemic and through a time of incredible pressure on hospitals.

A special broadcast alert from Queensland Health and Health Minister Yvette D’Ath to health workers thanked him for his service and announced chief operating officer Shaun Drummond would act as director-general from March 14, as Dr Wakefield takes leave ahead of his end date.

“After 32 years of service to Queensland Health, the last two and a half as director-general, I announce that Dr John Wakefield PSM will be leaving Queensland Health on 1 July 2022,” it read.

Queensland Health Director General John Wakefield. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

“Within 3 months of his appointment, the world was facing a one-in-a-hundred-year pandemic.

“Since January 2020, John has led the health system response to COVID-19 and can be proud of his contribution to the health, social, and economic outcomes for Queensland.

“Having led the health system to the ‘Living with COVID-19’ phase, John believes it is the right time to hand over the reins to a new leader to take the health system through this next phase.

“He will be spending time in the UK with his elderly parents, before returning to pursue his passion of patient safety improvement.

“I would like to thank Dr Wakefield for his service to Queensland and wish him well in the future.”

Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates said the resignation was a sign of the “deepening” health crisis.

“At a time ambulance ramping, emergency department wait-times and elective surgery waiting lists are ballooning out of control, this is another major blow for the state government,” she said.