New Ambulance Victoria boss Andrew Crisp going on leave for seven weeks
Ambulance Victoria’s new chief executive Andrew Crisp is going on leave for more than seven weeks, less than a month after taking over the troubled organisation.
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Ambulance Victoria’s new boss is going on leave for more than seven weeks, less than a month after taking over the troubled organisation.
Andrew Crisp was appointed interim chief executive just one week ago, after the former boss Jane Miller resigned amid a lengthy industrial dispute and a resounding union vote of no confidence in the agency’s executive.
But Mr Crisp told Raf Epstein on ABC Radio Melbourne on Wednesday morning he was going on prearranged leave for seven and a half weeks, and would be “uncontactable” for some of that time.
“It’s a long trip that’s been planned for a long period of time, I know it’s not ideal,” he said.
The leave comes during growing tensions in the health system, with paramedics locked in a lengthy industrial action campaign amid concerns over the agency’s management, hospital ramping, workload and poorly triaged calls.
The Herald Sun also revealed on Wednesday morning that a specialist ambulance crew had to be sent to treat an “urgent” patient inside a hospital corridor, because the emergency department was too busy to treat her.
Mr Crisp said the paramedics did an incredible job: “The call was escalated and there was a need to save someone’s life and that’s what occurred.”
When asked if now was an appropriate time to leave, Mr Crisp defended the trip and said, while not ideal, the organisation was bigger than just him and his absence would not impact EBA negotiations.
“There’ll be some very clear instructions for Andrew Carlyon,” he said.
“I joined the board in July, I did not think I would finish up in this position today.
“Ambulance Victoria will not live or die by Andrew Crisp being around.
“I think I bring some skills and some experience to the role … but it’s a big organisation.”
He said he was asked to take the job and would come back well rested and keen to continue his work.
“I’ve given it 100 per cent I believe for the time I’ve been here,” he said.
Originally published as New Ambulance Victoria boss Andrew Crisp going on leave for seven weeks
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