Single Chief Executive for two DHBs is a mistake

Single Chief Executive for two DHBs is a mistake

“The decision to appoint a single chief executive to lead two Wellington region district health boards is a mistake,” says Angela Belich, Deputy Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

She was commenting on an announcement that a single chief executive would be recruited to run both the Capital & Coast DHB and Hutt Valley DHB (https://www.ccdhb.org.nz/news-publications/news-and-media-releases/2018-10-11-single-chief-executive-to-lead-capital-coast-and-hutt-valley-dhbs/).

“The two DHBs have their own particular issues, population health needs and workforce pressures to deal with,” she says.

“They need to know that these issues are paramount in the mind of their chief executive, not wonder if they’re going to have to compete for extra staffing or building upgrades, or whatever issues need resolving to ensure quality of patient care.

“There’s a risk, too, of Hutt Valley DHB being neglected as the smaller cousin, and that would have very unfortunate consequences for the communities and health workforce in that area.

“This is a short-sighted decision that will not deliver the best care or resourcing for Wellington or the Hutt Valley.

“Learning from the earlier failed attempt to merge by stealth these two DHBs and Wairarapa DHB, this decision will again raise concerns about a merger by stealth rather than transparency, which will then become an unnecessary distraction for those working in Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media