David Ashbridge, boss of the Department of Health and Families, has finally quit after three controversial years in office.

Following a series of damning coronial investigations the control of hospitals was stripped off him last year. He refused to give an interview after quitting.

His next job will be as the chief executive for Barwon Health in regional Victoria serving a population of more than 450,000.

The NT president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr. Paul Bauert, said that Ashbridge was leaving a department which was dysfunctional in parts, specifically indicating the two current child protection inquiries.

He added that part of the problem was an entrenched layer of senior bureaucrats who survived or got promoted following the release of the controversial ‘Little Children are Sacred’ report.

Ashbridge, on the other hand, pointed out several things in Health and Families to be proud of. First he mentioned the creation of a local medical school, the radiation oncology unit and the Palmerston superclinic.

Several consecutive scandals teamed up to cause Ashbridge to be stripped off his powers as the controller of hospitals.