Axing of NT Health CEO Dr Marco Briceno in CLP reshuffle has disconcerted staff, doctors say

Doctors in the employ of NT Health say their former chief – the department’s fourth in five years – did not deserve to walk the plank after the head of Corporate and Digital Development was moved across.

NT Health CEO Dr Marco Briceno at a Covid-19 press conference in his former role as deputy chief health officer. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Doctors in the employ of NT Health say their former chief – the department’s fourth in five years – did not deserve to walk the plank after he was replaced in the CLP government’s public service reshuffle by the former head of the Department of Corporate and Digital Development (DCDD).

Dr Marco Briceno, who worked his way up through NT Health ranks after joining the organisation in 2008, was one of two department heads – alongside Education’s Karen Weston – relieved of their responsibilities earlier this week.

Dr Briceno, who was appointed interim chief executive in late 2022, and permanent head in May 2023, will be replaced by Chris Hosking, the erstwhile chief executive of DCDD.

A public servant of 25 years, Mr Hosking is not medically trained, unlike his two predecessors, Dr Briceno and, before him, Dr Frank Daly.

NT Health CEO Dr Marco Briceno at a Covid-19 press conference in his former role as deputy chief health officer. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

In a statement, new Health Minister Steve Edgington said the government had elevated the right man to head the department.

“Changes to Northern Territory public sector agencies will create a strong, effective government focused on our key priorities of reducing crime, rebuilding the economy and restoring our lifestyle,” he said.

“This will mean people will leave roles, changes roles and new people will come on.

“Mr Hosking is an experienced and respected administrator and I’m looking forward to working with him to deliver our commitments and build an efficient, effective and resilient health service for the Northern Territory.”

Chris Hosking is the new CEO of the Department of Health. Picture: File

Key CLP health pledges include a free meningococcal B vaccine program, unlocking additional treatment options at pharmacies, mandatory alcohol rehabilitation, and collaborating with the commonwealth to deliver more aged care facilities in response to bed block at the Royal Darwin Hospital.

For all of NT Health’s recent troubles – the Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals have been plunged repeatedly into Code Yellow (i.e. an internal emergency) due to chronic bed block and short-staffing issues, while earlier this year, revelations of a $200m budget blowout led to a furious, public rebuke – Dr Briceno was popular with the rank and file and not held responsible for the shortcomings.

Two doctors, who asked to withhold their names so they could speak freely, told this masthead their former chief was a good leader who had been unfairly maligned.

The change at the top has been “pretty poorly received,” claimed one.

“Marco had a real reforming agenda, and most of the doctors I have spoken to are just worried these reforms will now never reach fruition,” he said.

Another doctor said Dr Briceno was “well liked for his vision and leadership brand, and will be missed”.

The second doctor also expressed his alarm that the CLP had dissolved the Territory’s climate change and remote housing ministerial portfolios, saying the decisions were “concerning for the acute and long-term health of Territorians”.

ASMOF NT president Dr Tom Fowles has called out the churn of chief executives at the top of NT Health. Picture: Julianne Osborne

“It hit 41.6C in northern Australia this winter [recorded in the Kimberley on August 26], 0.4C higher than the record,” he said.

“Regarding remote housing, 70 per cent of remote-dwelling Territorians are Indigenous and they live in 600 remote communities and outstations.”

In a statement, the NT branch of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation said churn at the top of the department was disconcerting its members.

“We’ve had four CEOs in five years,” said its president, Dr Tom Fowles.

“Health doesn’t need yet another merry-go-round of leadership change.

“It needs proper funding and less centralised bureaucracy getting in the way of doctors trying to do the right thing for patients in the NT.”