Sydney hospital boss resigns after cancer diagnosis delays revealed
The boss of one of Sydney's busiest health districts has resigned after it emerged patients with cancer were waiting up to a year for essential procedures due to a massive backlog of cases.
Less than an hour before they were due to move a vote of no confidence in Western Sydney Local Health District chief executive Graeme Loy, doctors at Westmead Hospital received an email from NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce informing them Loy would be leaving the position next week.
'Graeme has been a passionate advocate for western Sydney, committed to championing key reforms in digital health, integrated care, and workforce development,' Pearce wrote, crediting his role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in western Sydney, and operating the state's largest vaccination hub at Qudos Bank Arena.
Loy has held the position for seven years, overseeing the development of the Westmead Health and Innovation Precinct, and early planning and design for a new hospital at Rouse Hill.
Dozens of senior doctors had gathered at Westmead on Thursday evening for an urgent special meeting to vote on a no-confidence motion in Loy, after this masthead revealed at least 21 patients had their cancer diagnoses delayed as the hospital's waitlist for endoscopies surpassed more than 3300 people.
Medical Staff Council deputy chair Jenny King told doctors in a letter on Tuesday that multiple members had requested to meeting to 'address serious concerns regarding the management' of Westmead and propose a vote of no confidence in Loy.
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'You will all be aware the MSC has advocated for many years for improvement in patient care including excessive delays in clinic review, procedures and surgical admissions,' King wrote. 'This has been a particular concern for those patients with a positive faecal occult blood screen.'
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program recommends a patient with a positive result from the blood stool test should undergo a colonoscopy within 30 days.
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Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney hospital boss departs after cancer diagnosis delays revealed
The head of one of Sydney's busiest health districts has departed after it emerged patients with cancer were waiting up to a year for essential procedures due to a massive backlog of cases. Less than an hour before they were due to move a vote of no-confidence in Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) chief executive Graeme Loy, doctors at Westmead Hospital received an email from NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce informing them Loy would be leaving the position next week. 'Graeme has been a passionate advocate for western Sydney, committed to championing key reforms in digital health, integrated care, and workforce development,' Pearce wrote, crediting his role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in western Sydney and operating the state's largest vaccination hub at Qudos Bank Arena. Former South Western Sydney LHD boss Amanda Larkin will act as interim chief executive until a replacement is found. Loy was appointed to the role in 2018 and has overseen the development of the Westmead Health and Innovation Precinct, as well as early planning and design for a new hospital at Rouse Hill. Loading He had a brief stint as interim chief executive of Sydney LHD after Teresa Anderson resigned following a vote of no-confidence in her leadership by doctors at Concord Hospital. Almost 200 senior doctors had gathered at Westmead on Thursday evening for an urgent special meeting to vote on a no-confidence motion in Loy, after this masthead revealed at least 21 patients had their cancer diagnoses delayed as the hospital's waiting list for endoscopies surpassed more than 3300 people. The vote proceeded despite Loy's resignation, and was passed unanimously. All 192 doctors present voted to send a delegation to meet with NSW Health to discuss their next steps.
Herald Sun
15 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Australian HIV self-testing kits now in vending machines in universities, nightclubs from Atomo Diagnostics
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The Age
16 hours ago
- The Age
Sydney hospital boss resigns after cancer diagnosis delays revealed
The boss of one of Sydney's busiest health districts has resigned after it emerged patients with cancer were waiting up to a year for essential procedures due to a massive backlog of cases. Less than an hour before they were due to move a vote of no confidence in Western Sydney Local Health District chief executive Graeme Loy, doctors at Westmead Hospital received an email from NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce informing them Loy would be leaving the position next week. 'Graeme has been a passionate advocate for western Sydney, committed to championing key reforms in digital health, integrated care, and workforce development,' Pearce wrote, crediting his role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in western Sydney, and operating the state's largest vaccination hub at Qudos Bank Arena. Loy has held the position for seven years, overseeing the development of the Westmead Health and Innovation Precinct, and early planning and design for a new hospital at Rouse Hill. Dozens of senior doctors had gathered at Westmead on Thursday evening for an urgent special meeting to vote on a no-confidence motion in Loy, after this masthead revealed at least 21 patients had their cancer diagnoses delayed as the hospital's waitlist for endoscopies surpassed more than 3300 people. Medical Staff Council deputy chair Jenny King told doctors in a letter on Tuesday that multiple members had requested to meeting to 'address serious concerns regarding the management' of Westmead and propose a vote of no confidence in Loy. Loading 'You will all be aware the MSC has advocated for many years for improvement in patient care including excessive delays in clinic review, procedures and surgical admissions,' King wrote. 'This has been a particular concern for those patients with a positive faecal occult blood screen.' The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program recommends a patient with a positive result from the blood stool test should undergo a colonoscopy within 30 days.
