Minister announces appointments of health directors

Health Minister Annette King today announced the appointment of 79 new health directors, with the appointments taking effect from Friday.

The new directors will augment the existing Hospital and Health Services (HHS) boards, providing a wider range of skills and a greater mix of local, Maori and Pacific members as the boards prepare for their more extensive roles as District Health Boards.

Mrs King said 30 current board members, including five serving on two or more of the 22 HHS boards, would be retiring early from the boards.

"I expect most of the directors will be appointed to the governing boards of the District Health Boards to be established under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Bill when it is passed late this year, although there may be a few further changes at that time. There may also be some more fine-tuning and extra appointments over the next few months."

Mrs King said the number of Maori and Pacific people on the boards was a significant aspect of the appointments. "There will be 45 Maori directors, of whom 33 are new appointments. All eight Pacific directors are new appointees.

"There are far more women, 63 of the 171 directors, on the new boards, and there has been a significant reduction in the numbers of directors who come from outside the regions of individual boards, or who serve on more than one board. There are now only seven directors serving on more than one board, and all have been retained for their considerable experience."

Mrs King said HHS boards have been managing their existing roles as well as preparing for their broader responsibilities as District Health Boards. "This has been quite an onerous and difficult responsibility, and I am grateful for the work that has already been done by the boards. They still have much work to do for the rest of this year and next year. I believe the combined strengths of the new and the experienced directors will help ensure they carry out this work efficiently."

Mrs King said she wanted to stress that while the composition and skill mix of the new boards would help the boards reflect the needs of local communities, no board member was there simply as a representative of a particular group.

"All board members must serve the interests of the whole community. The primary accountability of all board members is to the Minister of Health."

Mrs King said she particularly wanted to thank retiring board members for their work. "Some are very near the end of their terms, but others had longer to serve. The changes made are not a reflection of anything other than the need to build the most appropriate skill mix in each local board and our determination to make the boards as representative of local communities as possible. All retiring members can be proud of their commitment and contribution."

Mrs King said the changes did not affect the decision to merge the boards of Canterbury Health and HealthLink South, and plans were proceeding to achieve that by October. "No new board members have been appointed to Tairawhiti Health. Wayne Brown will continue as a one-man board for the time being, but I have advised some shortlisted nominees for the board of Tairawhiti Health that I will reconsider their nominations when we are ready to appoint a full board".

The process of selection of the new board members had taken longer than anticipated because of the large number and high quality of nominations and the amount of consultation necessary. More than 2100 nominations were received and 198 people were interviewed.

The process had included the determination of interview shortlists by Ministers and MPs, interviews by panels of officials, including Maori representatives (and Pacific representatives on six panels), she said. Ministers had consulted colleagues and caucuses on the recommended appointees, and the final decisions were made by the shareholding Ministers of Health and Finance.

Mrs King said training and briefing of directors was scheduled for early September.

The net cost of the additional HHS director fees is approximately $221,250, but once the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Bill was passed and DHBs were established, the Government intended to reduce the fees currently paid to HHS company directors to bring the new director fees into line with State Service Commission guidelines.

A list of members of the new Hospital and Health service Boards is attached, together with a question and answer sheet on the new appointments. MEDIA MAY OBTAIN BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL ON NEW APPOINTEES BY APPROACHING THE COMMUNICATIONS STAFF AT HHSs IN THEIR AREA.

For more information, contact John Harvey (04) 471 9305.

SUMMARY OF APPROVED CHANGES TO HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE BOARDS

(Changes with effect from 25 August 2000)

HHSRe-appointedRetiredNew AppointmentsNew Board

Northland Wayne BrownFay DeaneLynette StewartWayne Brown, CHAIR
HealthDavid BoothFaye GardinerShane Reti David Booth
Druis BarrettLynette Stewart
Kevin Robinson Shane Reti
Tony Birch Druis Barrett
Kevin Robinson
Tony Birch

WaitemataAlison PatersonJune KearneyEverdina Fuli Alison Paterson, CHAIR
HealthRita EvansLannes Johnson Rita Evans
Eric StephensHelen Capel Eric Stephens
Robyn WoodwardMichael Cohen Robyn Woodward
Pare KeihaPare Keiha
Rodger FisherEverdina Fuli
Lannes Johnson
Helen Capel
Michael Cohen
Rodger Fisher

AucklandRichard WaddelGraham CalvertRees Tapsell Richard Waddel, CHAIR
HealthcareAndrew StrangeJane HoldenPatrick Snedden Andrew Strange
ServicesBrian CorbanPhilip WestonMoera Douthett Brian Corban
Sven HansenElaine LunkenMargaret HorsburghSven Hansen
John WaltersGary Taylor John Walters
Rees Tapsell
Patrick Snedden
Moera Douthett
Margaret Horsburgh
Gary Taylor

South AucklandRoss KeenanDavid ThomasMetua Faasisila Ross Keenan, CHAIR
HealthJohn ScottJoan WithersRobert McKegg John Scott
Geoffrey WalesDeborah Ryan Geoffrey Wales
Wayne McLean Metua Faasisila
Peter Jansen Robert McKegg
Deborah Ryan
Wayne McLean
Peter Jansen

Health WaikatoIan WilsonBernadette Doube Ian Wilson, CHAIR
Tony CullLeaupepe Karalus Tony Cull
Piers HamidJames Ritchie Piers Hamid
Ian GlennieRea Wikaira Ian Glennie
Taitimu MaipiDave Macpherson Taitimu Maipi
Bernadette Doube
Leaupepe Karalus
James Ritchie
Rea Wikaira
Dave McPherson

HHSRe-appointedRetiredNew AppointmentsNew Board

Pacific HealthRobin WrayLee MathiasHeather Thomson Robin Wray, CHAIR
Mark ArundelAlan BickersTaari Nicholas Mark Arundel
Janie ElrickMary Hackett Janie Elrick
Joan KehelyColin BidoisJoan Kehely
Douglas LeederDouglas Leeder
Aubrey TemaraAubrey Temara
Heather Thomson
Taari Nicholas
Mary Hackett
Colin Bidois

LakelandJudith StanwayAnita BamfordSteve Ruru Judith Stanway, CHAIR
Health Alan VaneBernard IvoryDesmond Epp Alan Vane
Rees TapsellJenny Dowthwaite Rees Tapsell
Te Taru WhiteFred McRae Te Taru White
Steve Ruru
Desmond Epp
Jenny Dowthwaite
Fred McRae

TairawhitiWayne BrownWayne Brown, CHAIR
Healthcare

TaranakiBarry UpsonHayden Wano Barry Upson, CHAIR
HealthcareJohn AuldMarama Oti-Kaitoa John Auld
Moira IrvingMoira Irving
Harold MillardHarold Millard
Peter HolstPeter Holst
Kemp BroughtonKemp Broughton
Hayden Wano
Marama Oti-Kaitoa

Good Health Gavin DoyleJorgen SchousboeLinda ThompsonGavin Doyle, CHAIR
WanganuiKay Tipene-StevensonBob Davies Kay Tipene-Stevenson
Graeme MeyersJennifer Tamehana Graeme Meyers
Diana ValentineDiana Valentine
Ian WilsonIan Wilson
Linda Thomson
Bob Davies
Jennifer Tamehana

HealthcarePeter WilsonJorgen SchousbeeAlayna Watene Peter Wilson, CHAIR
Hawkes BayRobin HapePat SeymourJohn Whaanga Robin Hape
Kevyn MooreKevin Atkinson Kevyn Moore
David RitchieDavid Ritchie
Jean TaylorJean Taylor
Alayna Watene
John Whaanga
Kevin Atkinson

HHSRe-appointedRetiredNew AppointmentsNew Board

WairarapaDoug MathesonLee MathiasColleen Pringle Doug Matheson, CHAIR
Health Robyn O'CarrollOwen PriorRob Tuckett Robyn O'Carroll
Alan StewartDave Morgan Alan Stewart
Janice WennJanice Wenn
Colleen Pringle
Rob Tuckett
Dave Morgan

MidCentralIan WilsonPeter JansenClare Crawley Ian Wilson, CHAIR
Health Piers HamidDanielle Harris Piers Hamid
Gavin DoyleAnn Chapman Gavin Doyle
Peter DrummondPeter Drummond
Suzanne PriceSuzanne Price
Ormond StockOrmond Stock
Clare Crawley
Danielle Harris
Ann Chapman

Capital Coast Rick BettleWarren YoungTino Pereira Rick Bettle, CHAIR
Health Margaret FaulknerAlan HarwoodBev Lawton Margaret Faulkner
Harley GrayRoss BlackJohn CodyHarley Gray
John McEnteerJohn Forman John McEnteer
Lorraine WittenLorraine Witten
Tino Pereira
Bev Lawton
John Cody
John Forman

Hutt Valley Warren YoungAlan HarwoodChris Cunningham Warren Young, CHAIR
HealthBarbara GrieveColin GearyAte Moala Barbara Grieve
Marian RedwoodBrenda Tahi Marian Redwood
Shaan StevensPeter Glensor Shaan Stevens
Margaret Shields Chris Cunningham
Ate Moala
Brenda Tahi
Peter Glensor
Margaret Shields

Nelson-Nigel McFaddenFrank BaldwinMere Wetere Nigel McFadden, CHAIR
MarlboroughBrian KerridgeThomas LeighsAlex Grooby Brian Kerridge
Health ServicesJudy CroweSharon Brinsdon Judy Crowe
Lynette JonesSuzanne Win Lynette Jones
Mere Wetere
Alex Grooby
Sharon Brinsdon
Suzanne Win

Coast HealthMarian van der GoesJan CollJune Robinson Marian van der Goes, CHAIR
Care James DavidsonIan RobbMichelle Lomax James Davidson
John HunterChristine Robertson John Hunter
Elinor StratfordTahu PotikiElinor Stratford
June Robinson
Michelle Lomax
Christine Robertson
Tahu Potiki

HHSRe-appointedRetiredNew AppointmentsNew Board

CanterburyHumphry RollestonRoss BlackAlison Wilkie Humphry Rolleston, CHAIR
Health Allison CrawRichard WaddelApi Talemaitoga Allison Craw
Graham HeenanMarian van der GoesMick Ozimek Graham Heenan
David KerrPhilip Bagshaw David Kerr
Paul White Alison Wilkie
Olive Webb Api Talemaitoga
Mick Ozimek
Philip Bagshaw
Paul White
Olive Webb

Health SouthJoe ButterfieldGraham HeenanQuentin Hix Joe Butterfield, CHAIR
CanterburyRoger BonifantIan Moore Roger Bonifant
Richard AllanRichard Allan
Rosemary CarruthersRosemary Carruthers
Robert LoganRobert Logan
Quentin Hix
Ian Moore

HealthcareRoss BlackRichard Thomson Ross Black, CHAIR
Otago Michael CoburnPhilip Broughton Michael Coburn
Walter DalzielPeter Snow Walter Dalziel
Louise RossonLynne Grose Louise Rosson
David StewartDavid Stewart
Murray ValentineMurray Valentine
Richard Thomson
Philip Boughton
Peter Snow
Lynne Grose

SouthernRick BettleJohn HunterLesley Soper Rick Bettle, CHAIR
HealthWarren ConwayJohn MortonDennis Cairns Warren Conway
Neville CookKeith KennedyNeville Cook
Murray FlettKaren FifeMurray Flett
Michael CoburnMichael Coburn
Lesley Soper
Dennis Cairns
Keith Kennedy
Karen Fife

Healthlink Gill CoxRichard WaddelGill Cox, CHAIR
South George BellewGeorge Bellew
Jacqui GrahamJacqui Graham
Colin NotleyColin Notley
David StewartDavid Stewart
Caron TaurimaCaron Taurima

Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of extending the Boards?
The purpose is to ensure that the HHS boards have an increased ability to reflect community perspectives and expertise in preparation for the new roles of District Health Boards. HHSs have been primarily concerned with operating the business of a hospital. DHBs will be charged with responding to the health needs of their populations.
What criteria were used for appointing new members?
We were looking for a good balance within each board of skills and of backgrounds. We wanted local people who are familiar with the board's communities, and who had a complementary set of skills to augment those held by existing members. We have also wanted to make sure that Maori, in particular, as well as Pacific people and more women had places at the board tables.
Why have some existing directors not been re-appointed?
Largely because we were looking for a broader mix of people. Those who have not been re-appointed should in no way take it as an indication of any criticism of their performance. On the contrary, they have all contributed significantly. However, because of the wider perspective of the new boards, a change of balance was required, and that has meant where some skills were covered by more than one person, one or more of those people has had to step aside. We were also very keen to lower the number of appointments from outside the regions covered by each individual board. We believe that as much as possible boards should have local membership, and only in special circumstances, where an individual has considerable experience, will members come from outside the region.
Are these people HHS directors or DHB board members?
We are working under existing legislation so they have to be Hospital and Health Service directors until new legislation is in place late this year. At that point Board Members will need to be appointed under the new Act. Most of the directors in place will be re-appointed as DHB members
Will they be interim-DHB board members ?
No, they will be appointed as DHB members, but their term will only be until after the 2001 local body elections, when communities will elect seven members. At that time there will also be some DHB members who will be appointed to work with the elected members. Some DHB members might be reappointed in November next year.
Why would any of the HHS directors not be re-appointed as DHB board members ?
Simply because we are still fine-tuning the Boards and there may still be a need for a few changes. The people being appointed and re-appointed now know this.
Are you expecting DHB directors to become elected representatives after the 2001 elections?
That is for the voters to decide. Some may wish to stand, some may not. These people are those we have chosen to do the job at this point.