Independent Trouble-Shooter Needed For CCDHB - Heather Roy

ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman and Wellington-based MP Heather Roy today called for Capital & Coast District Health Board members to be stood down, and called for an independent commissioner to be appointed to resolve the terminal crisis at the ailing public health service.

"The commissioner must have a proven record of turning organisations around and be able to think outside the square," Mrs Roy said.

"Further, they must be allowed to form their own team, and have free rein to ensure Wellingtonians get the quality healthcare they deserve - without the political meddling from the Health Minister or Ministry that has become endemic in the public health service.

"CCDHB's financial position has been perilous since its inception in 2001. Looking forward, the structural deficit that this Board always finds itself in won't be resolved without fresh new thinking.

"Further, it is in serious need of a change in culture. CCDHB has a serious dis-connection between management and clinical staff - a split that means neither has confidence in the other. Wellington Hospital is a very unhappy place to work - with staff morale detrimentally affected by tensions within departments and between staff and management.

"This unproductive environment has resulted in a significant loss of public confidence in the capital's health services, and the now well-documented inefficiencies at Wellington Hospital - including woeful administration, entrenched staff shortages, and dissociated management - can only be resolved by an independent, innovative and brave approach to running a district health board in terminal crisis.

"Ministerial 'namby-pamby' tinkering will solve nothing. Health Minister David Cunliffe, his Ministry and the Labour-led Government must acknowledge the seriousness of the problems at CCDHB - only when the problems are diagnosed can Wellington's ailing health services be treated.

"My instructions to the commissioner would be brief, but specific: the commissioner must facilitate the best quality care in the best time at the best cost. They must look at all options to provide health services including those from non-Government providers," Mrs Roy said.

ENDS

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