New management for Hawkesbury District Health Service

Hawkesbury District Health Service will transfer to new operator, St John of God Health Care on Wednesday November 4, 2015.

4 Nov 2015

4 November 2015

St John of God Health Care will continue to provide a comprehensive range of public patient services to the Hawkesbury region and neighbouring north-west corridor of Sydney under a public-private partnership with Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, as well as provide private hospital services.

There are no changes to scheduled or emergency admissions and the hospital and community health service will continue to operate as usual.

Making the announcement, SJGHC Executive Director Eastern Hospitals Tracey Burton said, “Patients, their families and carers are our main focus as we provide uninterrupted care to the highest quality standards at Hawkesbury District Health Service.

“We look forward to working with local staff, doctors, volunteers and the Community Board of Advice and continuing the proud legacy of service established by Catholic Healthcare over the past 19 years.”

Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Chief Executive, Mrs Kay Hyman said, “We look forward to fostering a successful partnership with St John of God Health Care for the continued delivery of quality care to residents of the Hawkesbury community”.

Strephon Billinghurst, previously CEO St John of God Richmond Hospital, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Hawkesbury District Health Service and will take up this position on 4 November 2015.

“Strephon has extensive acute hospital management experience including at Calvary Hospital in Canberra which has a similar public and private service profile to HDHS,” Tracey said.

“He has been an exemplary leader at St John of God Richmond for the past two years and has strong understanding and appreciation of the local community and its needs in health and hospital services.”

Tracey said that being part of the large SJGHC network would offer new career pathways to Hawkesbury District Health Service’s dedicated staff and opportunities for health service development.

“SJGHC invests and grows facilities and services to meet community need and looks forward to working with the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and the NSW Government to explore plans for future growth of public and private services at Hawkesbury District Health Service.”

St John of God Health Care has more than 120 years experience in operating general hospitals and community services across Australia. It has expertise in the hospital services provided at Hawkesbury, such as maternity, paediatrics, medical, surgical, community health, critical care and emergency services.

In the last year across Australia, in its 14 hospitals SJGHC treated more than 289,000 patients in its hospitals and delivered more than 10,500 babies.