The chief executive of WA's Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS), which oversees Perth Children's Hospital, has resigned from the position.
The WA Department of Health confirmed the news that Aresh Anwar had resigned from his role effective from Friday.
Health Director General David Russell-Weisz said he had accepted Dr Anwar's resignation, 15 months after he rejected it when it was offered in the weeks following the tragic death of Aishwarya Aswath at Perth Children's Hospital last April.
Aishwarya was seven when she died from organ failure resulting from sepsis after waiting for two hours in the hospital's emergency department.
A report, released in November last year, revealed extensive problems with the hospital's handling of her case.
A coronial inquest into the little girl's death will begin on August 24.
In a media release issued on Thursday, Dr Russell-Weisz acknowledged Dr Anwar's efforts in charge of CAHS.
"Dr Anwar brought to the role considerable expertise, a strong work ethic, dedication and integrity, and he has also been a trusted member of the broader WA Health executive team," Dr Russell-Weisz said.
"Among many achievements, he oversaw the foundational phase of our flagship Perth Children's Hospital and steered CAHS through a complex and challenging period while also leading CAHS's outstanding response to COVID-19.
"Dr Anwar played a critical role in setting up the initial roll-out of the state's highly successful COVID-19 vaccination program and has made a considerable contribution to the WA health system, including stewardship of key recommendations within the Sustainable Health Review."
Family worried about timing of resignation
In a statement, Aishwarya's family said they hoped Dr Anwar was "not being made a scapegoat".
"We are worried about the timing of the resignation, which is two weeks away from the start of the inquest," they said.
"All we are looking for is a change and a better health system."
The Australian Nursing Federation's WA secretary Mark Olson agreed the timing of the resignation could be cause for scepticism.
"I think the public have a right to be suspicious over the timing," Mr Olson said.
"I would hope that he's available [at the inquest] because I know certainly the ANF will have questions for him but I also understand that the Health Department are trying to wriggle out of making him available.
"I think the Health Department need to be clear to the public of Western Australia that this person will still be available for questioning at that very important inquest that's starting in two weeks.
"We know that in the six to eight months leading up to the death of Aishwarya, there were many requests made of the executive at PCH for additional resources so it's important we have people available at the inquest who were there at that time to answer questions."
Ms Valerie Jovanovic has been appointed as acting chief executive for four months until a full recruitment process has been carried out.
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson thanked Dr Anwar for his service, in particular for his work throughout the two-and-a-half years of the COVID pandemic.
"I would like to thank Dr Aresh Anwar for his valuable contribution to our public health system as the chief executive of the Child and Adolescent Health Service," she said.
"Dr Anwar is a hardworking and dedicated individual, his management, in particular during the COVID-19 pandemic, helped protect vulnerable children and ensure they continued to access essential treatment.
"I will continue to work with the CAHS Board and the WA Health Director-General to progress important changes at CAHS for the benefit of children in our state and our hardworking healthcare workforce."
