May 5, 2016
A new CEO will be taking over at the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service – the regional authority responsible for all the South Burnett’s public hospitals.
Board chairman Mike Horan announced on Thursday that the new chief executive will be Dr Peter Gillies.
Former CEO Dr Peter Bristow resigned earlier this year to take up a position at the Townsville Hospital and Health Service.
“Dr Gillies has a very strong track record as an innovative leader in health system management,” Mr Horan said.
“He came to Toowoomba in 2009 to take up the role of Director Medical Services following his employment as the Director of Medical Services for Hunter New England Health in Armidale.
“Dr Gillies is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and has a Masters of Business Administration from Otago University.
“He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
“He has a background in general management, previously working as the general manager of a health software company and as the regional manager for a not-for-profit private hospital group in Auckland.”
Mr Horan said Dr Gillies had been a doctor for nearly 25 years and had worked in South Africa and the UK in both hospital and general practice roles before immigrating to New Zealand in 1995.
“Over the past five years in his roles as Executive Director of Medical Services and as General Manager Toowoomba Hospital, Dr Gillies has provided expert direction in improving patient care and meeting or exceeding clinical targets such as timely surgery, outpatient waiting lists, and emergency department access,” Mr Horan said.
“The Board and I have every confidence that Dr Gillies will continue to build on the many achievements of the health service in delivering excellence in rural and regional healthcare.
“I would like to acknowledge the exceptional work of Dr Peter Bristow in his time as Chief Executive for his vision and steady guidance of the DDHHS.
“On behalf of the Board, I congratulate Dr Gillies on his appointment and we look forward to working closely with him.”
Dr Gillies said he was excited about taking up the challenges of the new role.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the hospital and health service and working with the teams across our 26 hospitals and aged care facilities and other parts of the service,” Dr Gillies said.
“It’s certainly a big job but with a team of almost 5000 dedicated people behind me I am confident we will continue to deliver exceptional care to patients and communities across the Darling Downs and South Burnett.”
The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS) covers approximately 90,000 square kilometres, about one-and-a-half times the size of Tasmania.
Footnote: No replacement has been named as yet for South Burnett cluster manager Peta Rutherford who is leaving the DDHHS to take up a role with the Rural Doctors Association of Australia.
- Related article: Peta’s Off To Canberra
