Health Bosses Must Do Decent Thing in Lab Debacle

Media Statement For Immediate Release,
sunday 1 april 2007

“Auckland Health Bosses Must Do Decent Thing in Laboratory Debacle”

“Now that a new 18-month contract has been agreed for community laboratory testing in Auckland, those district health board bosses most responsible for the debacle must do the decent thing and resign,”said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.

“In particular, Ross Keenan and Wayne Brown must go. They displayed very poor judgment over the perverting conflict of interest influence and gross ignorance over their responsibility to properly consult with those affected. The only debate in this disaster is how many millions of dollars have been lost. They must realise that it defies professional and commercial credibility for them to remain in their positions no matter what other positive contributions they have made.”

“Health Minister Pete Hodgson has correctly focussed on first ensuring that the immediate mess is sorted out before 1 July. It is good that he has lent on the three Auckland DHBs to make this happen so quickly. Now this is done it is important to deal with the question of responsibility and accountability.”

“District health boards will lose credibility with both the public and health professionals if they don’t do the decent thing and resign. Millions of the public’s dollars have been wasted. If senior doctors showed such similar poor judgment in their professional practice they would most likely lose their medical registration. The double-standard and hypocrisy would simply be massive if different rules are allowed to apply to health bosses.”

“If the health bosses don’t jump, then the Health Minister should give them a good solid shove,” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ENDS

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