Can anyone shed some light for us?

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

It is just that we had one of your health care big wigs come over here to take over running the Royal Brisbane Hospital and, well, he managed to make a bit of a pig's ear of his first couple of weeks by sacking the Director of Nursing without cause.

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19645441-5003426,00.html

The meeting was called after Dr Ward sacked Ms Fleming on Thursday and gave her five minutes to clear out her desk.

She was reinstated several hours later and Dr Ward was forced to apologise and admit he did not have "a clear grasp of the industrial relations processes within Queensland Health".

Dr Ward only started the job three weeks ago.

After the meeting, Queensland Health said Dr Ward and Ms Fleming had "committed themselves to working together in a collaborative manner".

Queensland Nurses' Union state secretary Gay Hawksworth said RBWH nursing staff was still "very unhappy" with Dr Ward's actions.

"Whilst they appreciate that the director of nursing is now back in the job, Dr Ward has shown his management style and they will be watching everything he does in the future," she said.

Ms Hawksworth said Ms Fleming was not given a reason for her dismissal. "She had about a 30-second meeting with him and he handed her a letter and said 'your contract has been terminated, leave now'."

I have googled this about him

health care systems strategist and former paediatrician, Dr. Ward has a 30-year track record in frontline medical practice, hospital administration, research and government relations. Dr. Ward focuses on health system integration, working with health care partners across the continuum of care to improve patient care.

As the Deputy Minister of Health in the Nova Scotia Department of Health, Dr. Ward successfully led that province toward an integrated, community-based approach to health services, with a commitment to primary care renewal and population health. Prior to this role, Dr. Ward was Senior Consultant in the British Columbia Ministry of Health. In addition, he gained extensive hospital experience as President and CEO at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver and more recently the Scarborough Hospital in Toronto. In addition to his national consulting work, he has international experiences including work with the World Bank, in Croatia.

http://www.zoominfo.com/directory/Ward_Thomas_63651965.htm

And, well we are all curious about him. He has this glowing reputation apparently but then walks in and on 30 seconds interaction sacks someone - seems strange. Does anyone have any better/more information about this chap?

This is NOT repeat NOT me having a "go" at Canadians (hence I have edited this post) but a plea for more information. What are we in for here? Is he a real health care hero with some good ideas for reform or just a modern version of Nero singing his own praises while Rome burns around him.

[Fiona59]

Never heard of him and I've got a friend who's been at St. Pauls for 25 years and she's never mentioned him either.

But what do I know I live on the prairies.

[lalaxton]

I haven't heard about him either, but you have to wonder how important patient care is rather than climbing the ladder to him with so many different jobs in so many different places. Nova Scotia, Toronto and Vancouver are not next door to each other, and why was Auss so attractive to him????

[Kimt]

You have to wonder....how the world bank job fits into his Background???

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

What I do not understand is that from all accounts he fired the Director of Nursing based on two ten minute conversations he had with her. I very very much doubt he would have been able to do get away with doing something like this in Canada - so why try here?

[Fiona59]

Jet Lag??? Brain not operating in the correct hemisphere?

Who knows. But Directors of Nurses are usually considered "excluded" workers over here and have individual contracts. Maybe he read her contract and thought he'd be able to get away with it?

[Sarah, RNBScN]

I'm from Ontario and never heard of him. Not to swift!!