A SENIOR nurse with over 20 years experience will take over as the region’s highest ranking health bureaucrat for the next eight months.
Ngaire Buchanan has been appointed as Country Health SA regional director and will oversee five public hospitals across the South East while Jayne Downs is on long service leave.
Paul Bullen has acted in the role since Ms Downs began her leave in late December and will continue to have delegation authority until next Monday as Ms Buchanan transitions into the role.
The appointment follows a turbulent year at the Mount Gambier Hospital as hospital management faced a barrage of claims about an ongoing staffing crisis and overstretched emergency department.
Country Health SA chief executive Wayne Champion said Ms Buchanan had a wealth of leadership experience both interstate and overseas and was well-equipped to step into the demanding role.
“Ngaire has a nursing background and is an experienced healthcare leader, joining Country Health SA with more than 20 years experience across large, complex health organisations,” Mr Champion said.
“In her most recent role as chief operating officer at St Vincent’s Health Network in Sydney, Ngaire was responsible for strategic and operational leadership of clinical and non-clinical services.
“Prior to that, Ngaire held several senior positions at the Auckland District Health Board in New Zealand.”
