Chair of ProCare Health Limited Board to Retire

29 April 2014

Chair of ProCare Health Limited Board to Retire

The Chair of the ProCare Health Limited (PHL) Board, Dr Peter Didsbury has today announced he will retire from the position as Chair and member of the Board on 30 June 2014. This follows his announcement at the PHO’s Annual General Meeting in November last year that he was seeking to retire from the role.

“It has been a privilege to serve as a founding director since inception of ProCare Health in 1995 and as Chair of the PHL Board since 2008. After so many years of involvement this is an opportune time to retire. The company is on a strong footing and is growing in both capability and performance. I am retiring at a time when ProCare is being governed by a board with a clear strategic direction and led by a highly capable management team. Steve Boomert is well-established in the role of CEO and we are approaching the end of the year with indications showing sound business performance.

“I am pleased with the great deal of progress that the ProCare network has made. Recent clinical performance for example has confirmed that the ProCare network is a highly effective and productive group of general practices and this has helped build confidence among DHBs and the Ministry of Health in our essential role in delivering quality health outcomes for our patient population.

“In recent years ProCare has been successful in growing its membership quite substantially, which I believe is a sign that we are valued as a membership organisation. However the board and management are acutely aware of the need to continue to support GPs in simplifying the day to day operations of general practice. I am confident that this is a strong focus for the organisation now and going forward.

"The board has developed a clear plan for the recruitment of a replacement director and appointment of a succeeding chair and will communicate the detail of this next week.

“My plan after 30 June is to continue practising as a GP, a profession that continues to give me great satisfaction. I’m looking forward to giving more time and attention to focus on the needs of my practice colleagues and patients.”

Dr Peter Didsbury – Background & highlights
In 1991 Dr Didsbury and like-minded colleagues recognised the opportunities afforded to primary care through the Government’s White Paper “Your Health and the Public Health”, which emphasised the role of primary care in the public health system. In 1993 ProCare was incorporated and started trading as one of the country's first General Practice Organisations in 1995 with Dr Didsbury as a founding Director. This ‘activism’ was born out of his role as the Chair of the Afterhours Takanini Group and as part of the original Independent Practitioner Association (IPA). He subsequently became the Clinical Director of ProCare and in 2001 Dr Didsbury was heavily involved in the design and implementation of PHOs.

Personal highlights for Dr Didsbury include being a winner of the supreme award in health innovation in 2004 for his work on the dyspepsia programme and in 1996 he was named ProCare GP of the year.

In the overseas arena Dr Didsbury has presented twice to the Commonwealth Ministers of Health in Washington in 2003 and 2013 and has also presented ProCare’s work in Canberra and Sydney.

Dr Didsbury continues in the position of PHL Board Chair until 30 June. In early May the Board will advise the ProCare network on the process for filling the vacancy on the board and the chair's succession.

Dr Didsbury practises at Clendon Medical Centre, which has a significant population of high needs patients.

ENDS

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