Future of senior Tasmanian health bureaucrat Jane Holden under cloud (ABC)

View Comments ABC Ms Holden has been the Royal's CEO since 2012.

The Tasmanian Government is refusing to confirm or deny rumours three senior health managers are no longer in the roles.

It is understood the head of the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH), Jane Holden, and her north-west counterpart, Gavin Austin, have either been stood down or resigned and another senior bureaucrat left her position last week.

Sources have told the ABC the Chairman of Tasmania's Health Organisations Graeme Houghton met department chiefs at the RHH today and informed them about the departures.

Mr Houghton will not comment and neither will the State Government.

Jane Holden has been at the helm of the Southern Health Organisation for two years and the position includes the management of the Royal.

She was also appointed by the former government to oversee the hospital's redevelopment, which was halted after cost blowouts and delays.

Health workers seeking urgent briefing with chairman

Tasmania's health professionals are seeking an urgent briefing with Graeme Houghton, while the Nursing Federation is worried about more turmoil within a sector already in crisis.

The State Government estimates the health budget will be cut by $27 million in six weeks under changes to federal funding arrangements.

Neroli Ellis of the Nursing Federation says given the cuts to hospital funding and problems with the RHH, losing the chief executive would be a huge blow.

"It would have a considerable effect upon the Royal Hobart Hospital the timing couldn't be worse," she said.

"The demands on the Royal are enormous, the leadership is imperative to ensure someone can stand up for best interests of the Royal."

Ms Ellis says her phone has been ringing hot with calls from concerned members.

Jane Holden was the head of the North-West Regional Hospital until she took up her position with the Southern Health Organisation.

She has faced heavy criticism during her tenure, racking up a $60,000 mobile phone bill and for staying in what some claimed was luxury accommodation when she first moved to Hobart.

In addition to her Tasmanian duties, Ms Holden is also the commercial director of one of New Zealand's biggest private health-care companies, ProCare Health.

She has been contacted for comment.

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