Jeannette Young’s replacement as Queensland CHO Dr Krispin Hajkowicz pulls out of job

The man set to fill the role of Queensland’s top doctor Jeannette Young has mysteriously pulled out of the job due to ‘personal reasons’.

Dr Krispin Hajkowicz will no longer be taking up the position of the state’s Chief Health Officer as Dr Young starts her new role as Queensland’s Governor next week.

Dr Peter Aitken, who is the deputy health officer will step into the role until a replacement is found. 

In a statement the state’s health minister, Yvette D’ath said she ‘respected’ Dr Hajkowicz’s decision and his ‘request for privacy’.

Dr Young is set to embark on her next position on Monday, with state premier Annastacia Palaszczuk farewelling her on Thursday. 

‘This has meant enormous pressure, sleepless nights, and a torrent of information which she has processed calmly and clinically, with compassion and care,’ she said in parliament.

‘I am proud to say that, in my opinion, Dr Young has led Australia and the world in Covid health measures.’ 

Her 16-year tenure makes her the longest serving CHO in Queensland.

Dr Young had earlier said Dr Hajkowicz was the ‘perfect person’ to fill her shoes. 

‘I’ve been going to him for the last two years for advice,’ she said earlier this month.

Dr Krispin Hajkowicz will no longer be taking up the position of the state’s Chief Health Officer as Dr Young starts her new role as Queensland’s Governor next week

‘He has been the lead in the treatment and management of COVID cases and it is no accident that Queensland has only had seven deaths, out of our 2048 cases so far.’ 

The doctor is the director for infectious diseases at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and had recently received an Excellence in Leadership award for his supportive manner in helping staff amid the pandemic.

At the hospital he also ran one of the state’s first successful vaccination clinics and has been working on the frontline for the past 18 months. 

‘I’m thrilled and honoured to become the next chief health officer of Queensland,’ he had said earlier.

‘There’s a big problem and that is it’s going to be very hard to follow in the footsteps of Dr Young, who is brilliant, outstanding and has the respect of all of the doctors, all of the nurses, looking after COVID in the state.’ 

Dr Hajkowicz had worked through other pandemics during his time in the medical profession, including Ebola and the Zika virus. 

Dr Young is seen with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (left) and Health Minister Steven Miles