St John WA chief resigns after ambulance turmoil

Western Australia’s ambulance service had been “run into the ground” prior to its embattled chief executive resigning, a union says.

Michelle Fyfe will step down as St John WA chief executive from July 12, months before she had been due to finish her contract.

St John WA chief executive Michelle Fyfe.Credit:Holly Thompson

It follows a tumultuous period for the organisation with a blowout in response times and ramping, criticism from the state government over staffing arrangements and reviews into the deaths of two patients forced to wait for ambulances.

One patient waited more than two hours despite her call being categorised as priority one with a targeted 15 minute response time.

The McGowan government last month stationed senior health and police officials at St John’s headquarters in a bid to improve its performance.

It came amid growing pressure on the service as more staff were furloughed because of COVID-19 infections, with the health minister criticising St John for not immediately activating a policy allowing close contacts back to work.

The United Workers Union’s Fiona Scanlon said it was an opportunity for the service to be put on the right track.

“We are not surprised the CEO has taken the decision to leave a service that has been run into the ground, on her watch,” she said on Wednesday.

“The CEO has been part of an ambulance service with systemic problems.”

Scanlon reiterated calls for the service to be brought back into government hands.

“The move by the government to take responsibility for operating ambulance services would mean the WA community is no longer at the whim of a private provider and its board, with the bottom line, sadly, as their primary priority,” she said.

A recent parliamentary inquiry found the government should run the ambulance service if St John failed to lift its performance in the next five years.

St John WA chair Shayne Leslie thanked Fyfe for her service under challenging times but said the organisation needed fresh leadership.

Fyfe said she was proud of St John’s achievements.

“I have missed many precious moments with my family and I am now looking forward to some time off to spend with my husband, children and grandchildren before embarking on my next challenge,” she said in a statement.

Chief operating officer Antony Smithson will act in the role while the board searches for a new chief executive.

AAP

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