South Bruce Grey Health Centre has started its search for a new president & CEO as Michael Barrett has decided against renewing his contract with the healthcare organization.
His contract ends on March 31, 2023.
A memo from South Bruce Grey Health Centre (SBGHC) distributed to media outlets says the organization’s board offered to renew Barrett’s contract, but he wants to spend more time at home closer to family and friends in London.
“I have been living away from home during the week for over four years now, and the time has come for me to be closer to home throughout the entire week. I care deeply about the staff, physicians, and board, and have appreciated all of their support throughout my time with SBGHC,” Barrett says in the memo. “I have committed to work with the board to take all necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition to a new president & CEO.”
The statement from South Bruce Grey Health Centre points to the development of a comprehensive strategic plan, the creation of a regional Ontario Health Team and the implementation of a detailed nursing recruitment and retention action plan as some of the highlights from Barrett’s tenure leading the organization.
Several capital projects have also been undertaken at the organization’s four hospital sites in Durham, Chesley, Walkerton and Kincardine. One of the major project’s being advanced is the Kincardine Hospital redevelopment. SBGHC received Ministry approval earlier this year to enter stage three of the planning process for the proposed $60-million expansion and modernization of the emergency department.
“Michael has provided over four years of outstanding leadership to SBGHC through some very difficult times, especially during the Covid pandemic, and the current crisis associated with the province-wide shortage of health human resources. His extensive experience, along with his collaboration and communications skills, have advanced health care at SBGHC and throughout the region. He has also been a strong voice for rural health care at provincial tables,” says SBGHC Board Chair Bill Heikkila. “And while the Board of Directors is very willing to renew his contract, we completely understand Michael’s desire to spend more time closer to his family in London.”
The new executive selected to lead South Bruce Grey Health Centre will have to deal with a nursing staff shortage that’s affected the hospital organization’s service delivery for several years. The Chesley Hospital’s emergency department is scheduled to partially re-open next week as a Monday to Friday, daytime hours service (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.). It has been fully closed since October to allow South Bruce Grey Health Centre to conduct a review of the level of service it can provide at its sites “with the staffing resources that will be available.”
A long-term overnight closure was in effect at the Chesley Hospital emergency department from Sept. 2019 to June 2022, when an attempt was made to resume 24/7 service. There were sporadic overnight closures this past summer and then the hospital corporation made a decision in September to close the Chesley emergency department overnight again.
The Walkerton Hospital emergency department also had a brief period in 2021 when it was closed overnight, and the Durham Hospital emergency department has dealt with occasional temporary closures.
South Bruce Grey Health Centre says a recruitment process has been initiated with a goal of having a new president & CEO in place in time to allow a suitable overlap prior to Barrett’s departure at the end of March 2023.
