Opposition leader slams appointment of new NT Health boss following historical criticism

Opposition leader Lia Finochiaro has slammed the appointment of Frank Daly as the new chief executive of NT Health following historical concerns from health professionals surfacing.

Dr Frank Daly has been appointed the CEO of the NT Department of Health.

• NT Health Department appoints Dr Frank Daly as new chief executive officer

OPPOSITION leader Lia Finocchiaro has slammed the appointment of Frank Daly as chief executive of NT Health following historical concerns from professionals about his performance as a senior figure in WA’s health department.

Dr Daly was announced as the new chief executive of the department last Wednesday.

He made headlines in 2017 after suddenly resigning from his role as chief executive of the Child and Adolescent Health Service in Western Australia.

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It came after a review of staff morale at Princess Margaret Hospital, which recommended an “immediate change in leadership style, if not personnel”.

In an email to Health Department staff, Dr Daly said he was stepping down to pursue other opportunities outside Western Australia.

Ms Finocchiaro criticised Dr Daly’s appointment, saying “the last thing Territorians need is a ‘fundamental lack of leadership’,” she said.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles defended the decision to appoint Dr Daly saying he was appointed to the position following a robust independent recruitment process over many months.

Dr Daly also came under fire from Australian Medical Association (AMA) WA President Andrew Miller in 2016 after he announced 31 FTE junior doctor positions would be scrapped in the transition from Princess Margaret Hospital to the new Perth Children’s Hospital.

“Doctors in his own hospital do not believe the clinical services in the new children’s hospital are being properly set up. They’ve all lost confidence in him (Dr Daly),” Dr Miller said at the time.

In response, WA Health director general Dr David Russell-Weisz said patient safety had been of paramount importance in designing the new hospital’s workforce.

When contacted yesterday about Dr Daly’s new job in the NT, Dr Miller said he hoped he had learned from past mistakes.

“Our perspective is that was all five years ago and we hope his relationship with the NT goes better,” Dr Miller said.

“If he puts the clinical staff to the forefront and genuinely engages with them it will go better than it did here in WA.”

AMA NT President Robert Parker declined to comment on the appointment.

Dr Daly will start in his new role on June 7.

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