Amid grilling from staff shareholders at the company’s AGM today, Ramsay chair David Thodey locked in the date for new CEO Natalie Davis’ ascension.
As reported by HSD back in July, former Woolworths Supermarkets managing director Natalie Davis is taking over as Ramsay Health Care’s group CEO, but now we have a firm date for the handover of power.
Ms Davis has been CEO-elect since 1 October, but will take over as managing director and group CEO from Craig McNally on 2 December, according to an announcement at the company’s AGM today.
Mr McNally, who has been in the big chair since 2017, will stay on as chair of European joint venture Ramsay Santé until the end of June 2025.
The company is under pressure from some investors to sell or spin off Ramsay Santé, so perhaps preparing for that will hold Mr McNally’s focus for his remaining time before his retirement.
Company chair David Thodey said in his chairman’s address today that Ms Davis will play a “crucial role” in guiding the business through the “next phase of growth”.
“This transition comes at a pivotal time for the company, as we refine our strategies and invest in our operations to stay at the forefront of our dynamic industry,” said Mr Thodey.
“Natalie is an accomplished senior executive and leader with extensive experience driving large-scale strategic transformations during periods of uncertainty and market disruption.
“Along with her strong customer focus, this makes her exceptionally well suited to progress Ramsay’s strategy and skilfully accelerate our growth.
“Natalie has spent the past two months immersed in the business, both in Australia and offshore,” he said before thanking Mr McNally for his service.
“[He] has played a pivotal role in shaping Ramsay’s development over many years and, most recently, in leading the business through the covid pandemic.
“He has set the groundwork for our transformation strategy and been a strong advocate for our culture. We wish him well.”
Meanwhile, members of the NSW Nursing and Midwives Association turned up at the Ramsay AGM with some pointed questions for Mr Thodey.
“I just want you to know your patients are not getting the best care,” Carol Cook, a nurse at North Shore Private for 26 years, was reported by the SMH to ask.
“For three years [during covid], I wore my N95 mask … I had mothers who were critically ill and babies. I did that for you. And where are you behind me now?”
Darren Peters, an employee shareholder and union member, asked why Queensland nurses were paid more than NSW nurses.
Mr Thodey said employee agreements differed across the country, but Ramsay was eager to find a resolution to the long-running dispute, according to the SMH.
“We need to sit down and get this sorted out here in NSW, and that’s our intent,” he said.
Oh, the irony
While Ramsay Health Care nurses and midwives were conducting their 24-hour strike today in a bid for better wages and conditions, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation announced industrial action by their members who work for St Vincent’s Private Hospitals in Melbourne.
On Thursday 28 November staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Fitzroy, St Vincent’s East Melbourne, Werribee and Kew will walk off the job for two hours from 1pm. They’re looking for management to address understaffing and high patient workloads by introducing mandated, minimum nurse/midwife patient ratios across its four hospitals.
Meanwhile, as Ramsay’s nurses marched in Sydney’s Elizabeth Street today, NSW Health announced the winners of its Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce AM said the awards highlighted the remarkable professional achievements, compassion and dedication of NSW nurses and midwives.
“I also want to thank all of our nurses and midwives across the state for the skill, professionalism and heartfelt care they provide each and every day to the people of NSW,” Ms Pearce said.
The winners in each of the nine categories are:
- Nurse of the Year: Holly Fuller, clinical nurse specialist, Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals (Western Sydney LHD);
- Midwife of the Year: Michelle Foster, midwifery manager, Hunter New England LHD;
- New to Practice Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Jarrod Morrow, registered nurse, John Hunter Hospital (Hunter New England LHD);
- Nursing/Midwifery Team of the Year: Moruya Maternity team, Southern NSW LHD;
- Nursing and Midwifery Leadership Award: Sarah Melov, clinical midwife consultant, Women’s Health Research (Western Sydney LHD);
- Judith Meppem Lifetime Achievement Award: Sandy Eagar, nurse manager, South Western Sydney LHD;
- Aboriginal Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Kathleen Bohannon, nurse manager (Mid North Coast LHD);
- Healing Heart Award (colleague nominated): Rachel Edwards, nursing unit manager, Dubbo Health Service (Western NSW LHD); and,
- Healing Heart Award (consumer nominated): Salina Zafeiriou, clinical nurse specialist, Prince of Wales Hospital (South Eastern Sydney LHD).
For more information, including a full list of the finalists, visit 2024 Excellence in and Midwifery Awards.
WA award winners
Eleven winners were rewarded for their outstanding contributions to the WA mental health sector at the 2024 WA Mental Health Awards.
Community organisations, service providers and individuals made up a list of exceptional award winners, which were chosen from 30 finalists.
The event was hosted by the Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH), in partnership with the Mental Health Commission and Lotterywest.
“Good mental health and wellbeing helps us live longer, learn better and have stronger relationships with each other,” said state health minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.
“I would like to thank the Minister’s Award winner Brenda King and all other award winners and finalists for their remarkable contribution to the mental health and wellbeing of people in this state.”
Full list of winners:
- Minister’s Award: Brenda King;
- Prevention and Promotion Award: Mark Barrett-Lennard — M8D8 Campaign, Youth Focus; Blackwood Youth Association Youth Space – BYA Connect, Youth Mental Health Program;
- Mental Health Commission – Lived Experience Impact and Inspiration Award: Joanne Khan;
- Diversity and Inclusion Award: Oluwafemi Victor Adeseolu; Rise – Multicultural Services Centre of WA and Wungening Aboriginal Corporation;
- Lotterywest Employee or Volunteer Excellence Award: Landon Aston Punch;
- Mentally Healthy Workplace Award: Anglicare WA;
- Mental Health Education Award: Kingston Primary School – Kingston Primary School Student Services Team;
- Innovation in Service Delivery Award: Ruah Community Services – Enhanced Services Delivery Project; and,
- WAAMH News and Media Award: ABC Great Southern – Briana Fiore and Anthony Pancia.