NA Hospital CEO on leave after serving 1 day on job

Dr Samantha Kennedy has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the New Amsterdam Hospital, but after serving in that capacity for only one day, she has proceeded on annual leave.
Then CEO of the Hospital, Colin Bynoe, had proceeded on leave due to him in July, but when he returned at the end of September, the Ministry did not renew his contract.
From the time Bynoe had proceeded on annual leave, Focal Point Advisor to the Public Health Minister, Alex Foster, had been overseeing the daily operations of the New Amsterdam Hospital, but Dr Kennedy was appointed CEO with effect from November 5. The announcement was made at a press conference two Mondays ago, but Dr Kennedy was not present at that media engagement.
Chairman of the Regional Health Committee, Zamal Hussain, says the situation is

worrying.
“We are very upset because the services to the people of Region Six, and moreso the people of New Amsterdam, (are) not being given, because there is so much of deficiency in the health sector, especially at the New Amsterdam Hospital; and if the CEO is not there, then the burden goes down to the Medical Superintendent, who should be focusing on the doctors and patients,” Hussain explained.
Dr Kennedy initially worked with the New Amsterdam Hospital, but left to take up an appointment as an advisor to Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings.
After her three-year stint as a medical practitioner at the New Amsterdam Hospital, she worked at the Georgetown Hospital for three years before becoming the technical advisor to the Minister. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Warden University.
According to Hussain, it is an injustice to the institution to grant her leave only days after her appointment.
“It is an injustice to the institution, because we were looking forward for her to do the day-to-day running of the hospital,” he said.
At the last Region Six Council meeting, the issue of the appointment of a CEO for the New Amsterdam Hospital was raised. It was highlighted that the institution needs proper day-to-day management.
As head of the Region Six Health Committee, Hussain is urging the Public Health Minister to pay attention to the New Amsterdam Hospital. He says it is incumbent on the Director of Regional Health Services to ensure that anyone who is appointed to serve in the sector be on duty.