No rush to find new Eastern Health boss: premier

Some time could pass before a new chief executive officer is appointed to lead the St. John's-based health authority at the centre of a judicial inquiry into flawed cancer tests, Premier Danny Williams says.

Eastern Health's former chief executive officer resigned under a cloud in July 2007, with interim CEO Louise Jones serving in the role since then.

George Tilley resigned amid revelations over bungled radiology tests, which came on the heels of disclosures that hundreds of breast cancer patients had received inaccurate results involving their hormone receptor tests. Justice Margaret Cameron subsequently was appointed to head a commission which is still examining what went wrong with those tests.

Speaking in Corner Brook on Friday, Williams said a permanent replacement for Tilley will not be found quickly.

"Big job, big responsibility, big issues, big problems to correct there," said Williams.

"So, you know, it's not a hiring that is being taken lightly nor would I think that a candidate for that position would take on the job very lightly. So that's going to take some time but we need to make sure that we've got the best possible person."

Williams said he has had no involvement in the search for a new CEO.

Joan Dawe, who chairs Eastern Health's board of trustees, said the board is recruiting for the position.

When a candidate is selected, she said, the choice will be subject to the approval of the minister of health.

Robert Ritter, executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, told CBC News earlier this month that even though Cameron — who has already heard plenty of evidence about organizational and operating problems at Eastern Health — is not scheduled to file her report until next year, a new CEO should be recruited sooner rather than later.

Ritter said it would still be wise to make what he called a "bold" choice in filling the role.