West Moreton Health will farewell its Chief Executive Dr Kerrie Freeman next month when she leaves to take the helm of the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network.

West Moreton Health Board Chair Michael Willis led praise for Dr Freeman’s contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of people in the region.

“Kerrie has provided outstanding leadership during her five years of service,” Mr Willis said. “She has overseen the launch of a major capital works program that will deliver beds and facilities for our community, and, of course, a large-scale pandemic response that has led to many great innovations in health, despite the significant challenges.”

Dr Freeman, pictured, said she was proud that one of her legacies was giving consumers and carers a greater voice in how the health service was shaped.

“We serve a diverse community in West Moreton and ensuring residents have direct input on our services is so important,” she said.

“I have been truly privileged to work alongside the most dedicated teams of health staff who came to work every day, through floods, fires and pandemics, to care for the wonderful West Moreton community.”

West Moreton Health is seeking to appoint an interim chief executive while an international search for Dr Freeman’s replacement is underway.