EGHS Board president Matthew Wood announced on Friday morning that Mr Bush had resigned as chief executive, to be effective on June 28, 2018.

Mr Wood thanked Mr Bush for the leadership he has demonstrated in the health service and wider community.

“We thank Nick for his enormous contribution to the organisation and wish him well as he takes the next step in his career at Echuca Regional Health,” he said.

Mr Bush will join Echuca Regional Health as chief executive in July, having joined East Grampians Health Service as chief executive in October 2010.

Mr Bush said health services tended to change leaders after 10 years at the most.

“I’ve been here eight years and it’s time for change and for someone new to take over EGHS,” he said.

“EGHS is well placed, has great staff and a financially strong organisation and I’m looking forward to the challenge of taking up a larger organisation.”

Mr Bush said working with his staff had been a highlight of his time at EGHS.

“To come everyday to the staff here and talk to them, see what they’re doing and seeing what I can do to support them has been a highlight of my time here at the organisation,” he said.

An EGHS statement said that during Mr Bush’s time in the job, the organisation was recognised as a high achiever in in the health sector, being awarded the Victorian Premier’s Health Service of the Year in 2015 and 2016 for a medium health service against 21 other health services and as a finalist in the same category in 2017 (top three in state).

Mr Bush said he would come back to Ararat for the official opening of the $4.1 million expansion of the Community Health Services Centre.

“It will be a great day for all of us and I’ll certainly be there for that,” he said.

Mr Bush said the Ararat community had been very welcoming to him over the years.

“I’ve had great support from the EGHS board and from the community and the staff for the changes I’ve made at the hospital,” he said.

“They have embraced the need to move forward, particularly around training end education.”

“I’ll be hoping I get the same support when I move to Echuca.

“It’s been a great experience and I wish the board and the staff all the very best in the future and I look forward to keeping a close eye on future happenings at EGHS at Ararat and Willaura.”

Mr Bush will start at Echuca Regional Health in July and his wife Celine, children Genevieve, Edmund and Philippa will join him later in the year.​