The people behind Queensland Health and how much they earn
Queensland Health has been plagued with problems over the past year, from claims of toxic workplace cultures to a maternity crisis. These are the people running the public health service around the state and what they’re paid.
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With Queensland Health plagued with problems over the past year, from claims of toxic workplace cultures, constant ramping in hospitals and a maternity crisis, we take a dive into who’s running the public health service and how much they are being paid to do it.
It comes after a shocking report in September laid bare Mackay Hospital’s failures with more than 80 women interviewed about their “substandard clinical care”.
The report looked at the conduct of obstetrics and gynaecology services (O&G) within the MHHS from 1 July 2019 to 1 November 2021.
After the report was published, a toxic workplace culture and “systematic” failures were blamed for the care that left three babies dead.
The entire board was sacked and multiple changes in leadership were made.
A full-bypass of Gladstone’s maternity unit was declared on July 8. In October Health Minister Yvette D’Ath announced casarean procedures would resume at Gladstone Hospital in October.
SCROLL DOWN FOR LIST OF HEALTH BOSSES AND HOW MUCH THEY EARN
But the problems didn’t stop there. The Sunday Mail reported expectant mums from Gladstone were so fearful of travelling to Rockhamption to give birth they demanded elective C-sections.
In January it was revealed that women were desperately and dangerously birthing at home without the presence of a doctor or midwife in Central Queensland.
Amidst the crisis in hospitals there has also been an excessive number of ambulances ramped.
Figures from October showed three of every four people trying to get into an SEQ hospital were left waiting in an ambulance for more than 30 minutes.
More cases were then revealed in November when a series of 11 “significant incident reviews” from Queensland Ambulance Service were released under Right to Information.
The documents laid bare incidents including a male patient who waited more than eight hours for an ambulance.
QUEENSLAND HEALTH
(Remuneration figures based on financial year 2021-2022)
Dr John Gerrard
Chief health officer
Remuneration: $373,000 from December 13, 2021 until June 30, 2022.
Position description: Dr Gerrard has an important leadership role over a range of areas from public health, health protection, disaster co-ordination and emergency response.
Shaun Drummond
Director-General
Remuneration: $222,000 following appointment in acting capacity in March, 2022. He has since been permanently appointed to the job. His predecessor Dr John Wakefield received $393,000 from June 2021 to March 13, 2022.
Position description: Mr Drummond is responsible for taking a lead on a substantive reform process.
Craig Emery
Queensland Ambulance Services commissioner
Remuneration: $332,000 from August 2021 to June 2022.
Position description: Mr Emery is responsible for the strategic direction of QAS and the overall operations.
Dr David Rosengren
Chief operating officer
Remuneration: $207,000 from March 14, 2022 to June 2022.
Position description: Dr Rosengren’s role in the department is to give strategic leadership for corporate and operation services within the department. He leads a range of financial and human resource services and major capital infrastructure activities.
MACKAY HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Mackay Hospital and Health service chief executive Lisa Davies Jones resigned in August due to “family” reasons. She was paid $320,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
Her resignation came less than a month before a report into Mackay Hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology department was due.
The entire Mackay Base Hospital’s board was sacked in November after almost almost 100 women complained about the care they had received there.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service executive director of medical services Professor Philip Reasbeck, who also acted as the Chief Medical Officer, was suspended from duty in December 2021.
During the period of July 2021 and June 2022, Professor Reasbeck was paid 944,000 before he officially resigned on May 6.
Melissa Carter
Interim chief executive
Remuneration: Ms Carter has only been in the role for a matter of weeks but her predecessor Lisa Davies Jones was given $320,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
Position description: the role of the chief executive is to lead and manage the whole health service. Accountable to the board, which at the moment is inactive, she is meant to achieve a balance of good service delivery and high health outcomes.
Dr David Farlow
Executive director of research and innovation and clinical dean
Remuneration: From December 2021 Dr Farlow was acting as chief medical officer in the wake of Professor Reasbeck’s suspension. During the period of July 2021 to June 2022, he received $531,000.
About: Dr Farlow has been in Mackay since 1984 and had worked as a rural generalist for 26 years. He acted as chief medical officer for about a year before moving back to his role as executive director of research and innovation.
Position description: As clinical dean he supports the medical specialty training parts of the job but also leads the team in innovation and research of clinical practices.
Dr Charles Pain
Chief medical officer
Remuneration: Having started the role early 2023, there is no data on this as of yet.
About: Dr Pain has 39 years in the medical industry. He previously worked in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Qatar. He was recently acting chief health officer for the Northern Territory.
Position description: Dr Pain’s role is to make sure the health service meets safe clinical practice standards.
CAIRNS AND HINTERLAND HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Leena Singh
Chief executive
Remuneration: Not available as she will start the role in February 2023 but Tina Chinery, who was previously in the role, received $295,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Ms Singh has health experience as a chief financial officer, chief operating officer and strategics development roles in health services from Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand.
Position description: Ms Singh is the main advisor back to the board, providing leadership to the executive management team as well as the overall management of the CHHHS.
Don Mackie
Executive director of medical services
Remuneration: $338,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Dr Mackie was appointed to this role in 2019 but has leadership experience in Australia and New Zealand. He first specialised in Anaesthesia working in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Position description: Dr Mackie is the point of accountability for clinical and professional leadership of services across the CHHHS.
Tania Cavanagh
Allied health executive director
Remuneration: $220,000 while she was acting allied health executive director in 2021 to 2022.
About: Ms Cavanagh had been acting in the position since March 2020 but was appointed in the role in June 2022. She was worked over 30 years as a physiotherapist.
Position description: Ms Cavanagh is the point of contact for leadership and direction of the allied health services across the CHHHS.
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Dr Emma McCahon
Health service chief executive
Remuneration: $408,000 from July 2021 to June 2022 for those in the role of health service chief executive.
About: Dr McCahon started the role in April 2022. She has 15 years of leadership experience and was previously in New South Wales beforehand.
Position description: Dr McCahon is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the CQ Hospital Health Service.
Professor Pooshan Navathe
Central Queensland executive director medical services
Remuneration: $568,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
Position description: He is responsible for the professional functions and strategies for the health services medical workforce.
DARLING DOWNS HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Annette Scott
Health service chief executive
Remuneration: $241,000 from October 2021 to June 2022.
About: Ms Scott has experience in the public and private health system. In June 2021 she was awarded a public service medical for her services to health.
Position description: She is responsible for the management of the Darling Downs health service ensuring there is delivery of some government objectives.
Shirley-Anne Gardiner
Toowoomba Hospital executive director
Remuneration: $241,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Ms Gardiner has been the executive director at Toowoomba since 2016. She has previously held leadership roles in New Zealand and has a masters in management (Health services).
Position description: Ms Gardiner is accountable for the leadership at Toowoomba Hospital.
Dr Christopher Cowling
Executive director rural services
Remuneration: $81,000 from April 25,2022 to June 2022.
Position description: Dr Cowling is responsible for the rural division of the health service, including 20 hospital and health services.
Dr Hwee Sin Chong
Executive director Queensland Rural Medical Service
Remuneration: $548,000 from July 2021 to June 2022
Position description: Dr Sin Chong is responsible for consumer satisfaction, clinician engagement and professional standards as well as relieving services.
GOLD COAST HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Ron Calvert
Chief executive
Remuneration: $441,000 from July 2021 to June 2022
About: Mr Calvert has more than 20 years of experience at a health management level. Mr Calvert was previously chief executive at England’s Doncaster and Bassetlaw National Health Service.
Position description: Mr Calvert is responsible for the management of the health service.
Dr Raghu Murthy
Acting executive director of medical services, clinical governance and research
Remuneration: The previous executive director received $514,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Dr Murphy joined the role recently after Dr Kellie Wren moved to Metro North following being in the role for a year.
METRO SOUTH HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Noelle Cridland
Acting chief executive
Remuneration: Ms Cridland was only appointed in the role in September 2022, the chief executive was previously Peter Bristow. During the period of July 2021 and June 2022, the chief executive received $602,000.
About: Ms Cridland has had various roles within Metro North and Children’s Health Queensland. She is a registered nurse and has a masters in nursing.
Position description: She is responsible for the objectives and strategies of the board delegating things to the executive team to manage the health service.
Adrianne Belchamber
Acting Chief Operating Officer
Remuneration: Ms Belchamber was not in the role in the last financial year but the COO in that position received $446,000.
About: Ms Bedchamber is a registered nurse with more than 20 years of experience in the medical industry. She has been with Metro South since 2019 working in multiple roles.
Position description: She is responsible for managing the five acute hospitals in the health service.
NORTH WEST HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Sean Birgan
Acting chief executive
Remuneration: Mr Birgan started his position after the financial year but Dr Karen Murphy who was previously in the role until November received 138,000 from July 2021 until she moved to Perth. In the year before that she received $408,000. Craig Carey, who was in the role during the financial period of November 2021 to June 2022, received $189,000.
About: Mr Birgan has been a nurse for more than 38 years. He has also had 20 years of experience in senior leadership.
Position description: The chief executive is in charge of the daily management of the health service.
Anthea Woodcock
Acting executive director medical and clinical services
Remuneration: Dr Woodcock has been in the position for a small period of time. Previously Dr Nadeem Siddiqui was in the position and received $451,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
Position description: The executive director is in charge of the leadership of the clinical workforce and clinical governance.
METRO NORTH HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Jackie Hanson
Chief executive
Remuneration: From July 2021 to June 2022 Ms Hanson received $416,000.
About: Ms Hanson has worked in leadership roles for more than 10 years in Queensland and South Australia.
Position description: She is in charge of the strategic management of the health service.
Adjunct Associate professor Jane Hancock
Chief operating officer
Remuneration: Acting chief officer Dr David Rosengren from July 2021 to March 2022 received $372,000, while professor Hancock received $55,000 from March to June.
About: She studied as a registered nurse and specialised in critical care in both adults and paediatric.
Position description: She is in charge of the operations and day to day management of the health service.
SOUTH WEST HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Dr Anthony Brown
Chief executive
Remuneration: $426,000 from August 2021 until June 2022.
About: Dr Brown has been a rural generalist doctor for more than 30 years with experience across Queensland, Victoria and Northern Territory.
Position description: Dr Brown is in charge of the overall leadership and management of the health service.
Dr Debra Tennett
Executive director medical services and clinical governance
Remuneration: $435,000 from July 2021 until June 2022.
About: Dr Tennett joined team in 2021 having had experience in Tasmania, Kingaroy, Tara and Gympie.
Position description: Dr Tennett is in charge of the medical workforce and clinical governance making sure service strategies are aligned with the service’s needs.
SUNSHINE COAST HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Dr Peter Gillies
Chief executive
Remuneration: $421,000 from October 2021 to June 2022.
About: Dr Gillies was previously the executive director of medical services at Darling Downs and has worked as a doctor for more than 25 years including in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Position description: Dr Gillies is in charge of the strategic leadership of the health service by developing health service plans, workforce plans and delivering public sector health services.
Joanne Shaw
Chief operating officer
Remuneration: Starting the role about half way through the year Ms Shaw received $162,000 from December 2021 to June 2022.
Position description: Ms Shaw’s responsible of the strategic leadership and daily delivery of clinical services.
TORRES AND CAPE HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Beverley Hamerton
chief executive
Remuneration: $264,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Ms Hamerton has experience in planning for the rural and remote area health service. She was appointed this role in April 2018.
Position description: Ms Hamerton is in charge of the whole health service performance while looking over strategy and reform.
Dr Marlow Coates
Executive director - medical services
Remuneration: $585,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Dr Coates is based on Thursday Island and is a rural generalist senior medical officer.
Position description: Dr Coates is in charge of the clinical operations and service across the health service covering radiology and organisational units.
WEST MORETON HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Hannah Bloch
Chief executive
Remuneration: While Ms Bloch started the role in the second half of 2022, her predecessor Dr Kerrie Freeman received $325,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Ms Bloch started the role as interim chief executive in July 2022 before being appointed the full time one in November. She was previously acting as Gold Coast Health chief executive.
Position description: Ms Bloch is in charge of the overall health service as well as delivering the objectives from the board and government.
Dr Deepak Doshi
Chief medical officer
Remuneration: $478,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Dr Doshi specialised in emergency and paediatric emergency medicine in the United Kingdom. Before that he was trained in India. He has worked in multiple hospital across New South Wales and Queensland.
Position description: He is responsible for the management of medical and clinical parts of the health service.
WIDE BAY HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Deborah Carroll
Chief executive
Remuneration: $291,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Ms Carroll has worked in public health for about 40 years. She completed her general nurse training at Mackay Base Hospital in 1981.
Position Description: She is in charge of the overall leadership of the health service ensuring patient safety reporting back to the board.
Dr Scott Kitchener
Executive director of medical services
Remuneration: $604,0000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Dr Kitchener joined the team in October 2020. Dr Kitchener was previously director of medical Services at Metro North and had roles in New South Wales.
Position description: He is responsible for the medical workforce and medical recruitment as well as strategic leadership. He reports back to the chief executive.
TOWNSVILLE HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE
Kieran Keyes
Chief executive
Remuneration: $384,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Mr Keyes has been in the health service since 2012 as chief operating officer before he became chief executive in 2017.
Position description: He is in charge of the strategic direction and economic administration of the health service.
Chief medical officer
Dr Niall Small
Remuneration: $616,000 from July 2021 to June 2022.
About: Dr Small joined the team in February 2020. He is from Edinburgh and moved to Queensland after medical school.
Position description: He is responsible for the operational leadership of medical services at the health service.
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