INCOMING Albury Wodonga Health chief executive Leigh McJames has put a patient-first approach at the top of priority list in the role he started on Monday.
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Mr McJames has returned to the cross-border health service he played a major part in setting up in the late 2000s after a four-year stint in charge of the National Blood Authority.
His return coincides with the soon to be opened Albury-Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre next door to the Albury hospital site in East Albury.
Key clinical equipment including a linear accelerator for radiotherapy services is due to be installed in late June with services expected to commence in late July.
Ramsay Healthcare has been contracted to provide hospital services, day chemotherapy and pharmacy.
But Mr McJames said the ongoing delivery of all health services would remain the cornerstone of the organisation on his watch.
“The focus always has to be about the patient, first, second and last, with safe and reliable care,” he said.
“You can’t put budget ahead of that.”
Mr McJames previously worked in defence in a variety of roles including Australian embassy positions in Washington and Baghdad.
He first came to AWH as its transition manager in the start-up era before being appointed executive director corporate support.
His last job with the blood authority carried an annual budget of $1 billion.
But the AWH budget is not an insignificant amount of $260 million and has almost doubled since its inception in 2009.
“A lot has changed in four years,” he said.
“But I’ve always had a soft spot for Albury Wodonga Health because I was here when it was first formed.
“We brought two parts together and it is obvious there is a lot more cohesion.
“The organisation has matured a lot and become a lot more sophisticated in a lot of respects.
“Health is a tough gig, funding is tight and you’ve got to spend it wisely.”
Mr McJames’ family bought a farm in the Mitta Valley 30 years ago which created a desire to always return to the region permanently.
“I pursued a career in government, but if you are going to pursue a career in government, you are going to move around a little bit,” he said.
“My preference has always been to live in the Albury-Wodonga area.”