By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM’S biggest hospital has had a shakeup with the shock resignation of its executive director.
Werribee Mercy Hospital staff were informed by email on Friday 18 May that executive director Richard Ainley would be leaving his post “effective immediately”.
Mr Ainley, the Executive Director of South Western Health Services, including Werribee Mercy Hospital, Mercy Mental Health and Mercy Palliative Care, has held the title for the past two years.
Mercy Health Chief Executive, Stephen Cornelissen, said Mr Ainley had progressed from a management trainee through to leading Mercy Health.
“Richard had made a great contribution to Mercy Health. We are pleased to have seen Richard’s growth and wish him well in his new ventures,” Mr Cornelissen said.
“We are fortunate to have very experienced senior managers within the hospital, mental health and palliative care (areas) who will continue to ensure all services are delivered to our community in accordance with the Mercy Health values and standards.”
The reason given for his departure was that he was “moving on to new opportunities”.
A spokesperson for the hospital did not respond to questions relating to a replacement for Mr Ainley.
The news comes as figures obtained via Freedom of Information show that patient transfer times at the hospital have increased steadily over the past three years.
In the 2009 to 2010 financial year, 70 hours per month were spent on total patient transfer times while in the last nine months to March this year, the number of hours had grown to 100.
An employee from the emergency department at the hospital told Star last week that staff members were facing regular abuse from patients who were frustrated with lengthy waiting times.
“The staff are doing their best but they are worn out and frustrated with not being able to reach an appropriate level of care needed by the community,” the staff member said.
“Some patients do get quite aggressive when they have to wait for a long time.”
