23 June 2023

More than two thirds of Calvary Public Hospital staff put their hands up to stay on after transition

| Claire Fenwicke
Join the conversation
19
Calvary Public Hospital Bruce

Transition of Calvary Public Hospital Bruce staff to Canberra Health Services has accelerated since a Supreme Court ruled the acquisition valid. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.

The transition of Calvary Public Hospital Bruce (CPHB) appears to be on track with all of the executive team and almost two thirds of the workforce already electing to stay on.

As of 22 June, the Northside Hospital Transition Team had received 1228 Employee Transition Forms, which equates to 68 per cent of the estimated 1,800-strong workforce at the facility.

One of these is Executive Director of Medical Services Dr Elaine Pretorius, who will become the northside hospital’s general manager after she transitions to Canberra Health Services (CHS).

In an email to all staff seen by Region, CHS CEO Dave Peffer said the service had given its commitment to the Calvary workforce that they wanted certainty and stability, and this was one part of delivering that promise.

“The team has shared with me how important it is to have certainty who they’ll be working for after the acquisition – to that end, we’re progressing well in securing the entire existing leadership team,” he said.

“Particularly important, I’m very pleased to announce that Dr Elaine Pretorius, who is stepping into the general manager role, has agreed to transition across to CHS and remain in that position, leading the hospital post-acquisition.”

Dr Pretorius had stepped into the general manager role following the work of interim general manager Daniel Wood.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said all CPHB executives had elected to transition, which meant it would be run by the same management team which is currently in place.

She said while Dr Pretorius is new to the ACT, she had already made an impact.

“People have very much supported her appointment as the general manager of [the northside] hospital,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

“So we’re really confident that this transition is proceeding in the way that we had hoped and expected, and that ultimately what we will end up with is an integrated, networked public hospital system working collaboratively with our private hospital partners, which will continue to include Calvary Health Care.”

READ ALSO UPDATE: Pocock slams Federal Senate vote as attack on Territory rights

Calvary’s Regional CEO Ross Hawkins is heading up the CPHB’s transition team, and also let hospital staff know about Dr Pretorius’s appointment.

He said she would make an “excellent general manager” both during the transition phase and post-transfer.

“I wish her all the very best in this role and I know the hospital is in safe hands,” Mr Hawkins said.

In his all-staff email, he stated changes would start to be seen around the hospital as the acquisition date drew closer.

“As we move closer to 3 July, you will see a number of CHS people and visitors around the hospital, and may also notice Calvary artifacts, branding and iconography starting to be removed from the CPHB site,” Mr Hawkins said.

“A reminder that we have asked that anyone who enters the CPHB workspace to identify themselves so that staff are aware of who they are, and what is happening.”

READ ALSO ‘Urgent’ heritage listing nomination for Calvary Public Hospital to have no impact on transition

The transition of staff has also accelerated since the Supreme Court decision that the Act enabling the acquisition of CHPB’s land was valid.

Mr Peffer put it down to uncertainty about the hospital’s future being removed.

“Since the Supreme Court decision we’ve seen a marked acceleration in Calvary team members indicating a desire to transition to CHS,” he said.

The Employee Transition Forms were originally accessible online, however CHS now has a physical presence at the CPHB campus, setting up an information kiosk on Thursday (15 June).

Staff who registered to transition their employment to CHS started receiving letters of offer from 13 June, with 849 letters sent and 368 letters of offer accepted.

As permitted under the Act, the workforce can continue to be transitioned to CHS after 3 July.

Northside Hospital Transition Team Deputy Director General Cathie O’Neill said this number was expected to grow.

“The Transition Team stands ready to work with each individual employee to discuss their individual circumstances,” she said.

“We understand that not everyone may want to transition their employment to Canberra Health Services. This is a matter for individual team members to discuss with the HR team at Calvary.”

Mr Peffer said the recent week had yielded some “great collaborative work” between CHS’s transition team and Calvary’s leadership team.

“The [Supreme Court] decision cleared the path for the transition to proceed – and we’re now full throttle, working towards 3 July,” he said.

“It’s been good to move from planning in isolation, towards a partnership approach.

“From Ross [Calvary’s Regional CEO] and his transition team, our focus has been completely shared – patients and workforce first.”

The teams have also been working on key supply and service contracts, as well as critical ICT to support ongoing service provision past the acquisition date of 3 July.

Join the conversation

19
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest
Peter Herman9:56 am 04 Jul 23

So really sick of this Labor/Greens mob telling us voters that Tharp are the best in Canberra
It’s time that they stopped wasting taxpayer money
How do they know that 2/3 of the staff will transfer to the public side….there is no work in Canberra so they have to stick with the hospital situation
Time for ACT government to stop spending taxpayer money, or is the ACT govt broke after sm wasting taxpayer funds
What will be next on the chopping block…the mind boggles

bev hutchinson11:14 am 26 Jun 23

Selective journalism. Calvary staff having a “desire” to stay on is fanciful at best. The staff need jobs and they need to pay the bills. It’s not a vote of confidence or respect for this appalling decision by any means.
Calvary has served our community flawlessly for decades and now because the Catholic faith church refuses to undertake abortions or participate in assisted dieing they are forced out.
Let’s not also forget that this government intends to knock the hospital down! Why not build a brand new facility in the far north suburbs!

First of all, this decision has nothing to do with abortions. The northside hospital, like the current Canberra hospitals, will not be setting up an abortion clinic, nor performing abortions except in cases where there is an threat to the woman’s health. Voluntary abortions, where there are no other health issues, will continue to occur at the facility in Civic. There are no plans to change that; nor will the number of abortions in the ACT change.

Secondly, the government is not intending to knock the whole hospital down. Some of the buildings (already paid for by the taxpayer) will be refurbished and utilised. This is about expanding and upgrading the facilities.

Thirdly, not all the current staff are working there because they have any particular religious affiliation. They are professional health workers and are interested in the delivery of health services. Staff members I have personally spoken with have said they don’t care who provides the administrative function as long as it doesn’t get in the way of delivering health services.

Flawlessly?

When they fail to get records of treatment to Canberra Hospital to allow ongoing treatment, there is a problem.

They’re currently taking legal action against a young doctor for not providing timesheets regarding the unpaid overtime they required.

One wonders what other organisations or institutions this Greens/Labor Government has in their sights. Given the name Calvary will be removed what will the new name be? A friend said all uniforms will be changed and the Calvary logo removed. Barrattnorth Community Hospital has a ring to it.

Stalag 13 has an even better sound.

Likely to be called North Canberra Hospital

John Schwazer6:03 pm 25 Jun 23

Only more than two thirds? In these trying times? Wow. That’s a lot of staff willing to leave. That’s quite a statement

I would actually be a little concerned that a third want to walk,

It’s not confirmed that “a third want to walk”. There will be some who haven’t had time to do the paperwork, some away on leave and some still making up their minds. Nothing unusual there.

Summer Sandy6:59 pm 25 Jun 23

I agree, one third is a lot of unhappy people. Also, with increasing interest rates and living costs, not to forget loyalty to existing patients, the two thirds that are staying, probably don’t have much choice but to stay

Shouldn’t the headline read…More than two thirds of Calvary Public Hospital staff put their hands up so far, to stay on after transition. I suspect the number will be much higher by the closing date.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.