Queensland health director general quits

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDJun 1 2011

The director-general of Queensland Health will leave the department this week as the fallout from the failed payroll disaster continues. It was known that Mick Reid would vacate the director's chair after three years in the role. His contract expires later this month, however he will take leave from his position from Friday.

Health Minister Geoff Wilson praised Mr. Reid and announced Dr Tony O'Connell, currently Queensland Health's chief executive of the Centre for Healthcare Improvement, would act in the role of director-general from Friday. Mr. Wilson said, “(Mr. Reid) leaves behind an increasingly strong and capable organization…What's more, there is no doubt that Mick is recognized in Queensland and nationally as a leader in health reform and I want to take continued advantage of his skills in that area to get the best deal for Queenslanders.”

Yesterday, the government announced it would pursue 38,000 Queensland Health workers who were overpaid after a new payroll system was introduced in March last year. A new payroll system introduced in March last year has caused widespread chaos, with staff being overpaid, underpaid or not paid at all in some cycles. The government says workers owe a combined $62 million.

But Opposition health spokesman Mark McArdle says the State Government is not chasing amounts under $200 that amounts to $1.6 million. Mr. McArdle also says there is also the cost of employing a 50-strong recovery team. “Put it this way, you're going to have to have a process in place whereby people will be contacted to say come and talk to us about what we think is an overpayment - who's going to do that? Who's going to pay that? Is there a mediation process to be put in place in relation to disputes? Who is going to pay that? Legal action being taken against doctors and nurses; who's going to pay that? This could build into more millions of dollars because the Government did not get the basics right on day one,” he said. Mr McArdle says the State Government cannot even sue for damages adding, “I think this Government has missed the date by which they could commence proceedings to sue the initial contractor…Now that's a situation [where] no future government can recover those funds, but that could well have been an avenue they should have taken at the time. Is it a question the Government didn't look at properly? I think it is. I think they missed a date because, again, they were negligent and the long-term costs will be borne by the taxpayer because of that problem.”

Queensland Health Minister Geoff Wilson repeatedly dodged the question about if the payroll problem would ever be fixed. “The problems that have been identified are in the process of being fixed,” he said. “A payroll system such as this will never be perfect.” He apologized to staff that have to repay the overpayments. “I want to say that I sincerely regret that Queensland Health have to take this position and I apologize to staff that this now has to take place,” he said. “I have directed Queensland Health that they must undertake this exercise with sensitivity and caring and consideration for the individual's circumstances of every member of staff.”

Dr O'Connell – Mr. Reid’s temporary replacement, is an intensive care specialist with 25 years' experience in hospitals, Mr. Wilson said. Following his time as an intensivist, Dr O'Connell worked with the NSW health department before coming to Queensland as chief executive of Queensland Health's Centre for Healthcare Improvement. Mr. Wilson said the government would immediately launch an international recruitment process for Mr. Reid's permanent replacement.