9. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
Does he still stand by his policy to deliver better, sooner, and more convenient health care?
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) Link to this
Yes. The Government inherited significant financial challenges but, just as important, we are dealing with a public health service that has some clinically vulnerable services. We have previously announced plans for shared board appointments to enhance cooperation and collaboration between neighbouring health boards, in order to improve financial and, more important, clinical viability. Today the Government is announcing that from the beginning of next year Dr David Warburton, currently the deputy chair of the Whanganui District Health Board, will also serve on the MidCentral District Health Board; and that Mr Sunderland, currently a member of the Midcentral District Health Board, will also serve on the Whanganui District Health Board.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
What other cross-board appointments is the Government making to deal with the substantial challenges that the Minister outlined?
The two district health boards in Wellington, the Capital and Coast District Health Board and the Hutt Valley District Health Board, also face significant challenges, and they are highly dependent on each other. For example, the Capital and Coast District Health Board does around 40 percent of elective surgery for Hutt Valley residents, so both need to work well together to be successful. Mr Keith Hindle, a member of the Hutt Valley District Health Board since 2003, has been appointed to the Capital and Coast District Health Board, and Mrs Debbie Chin, a Wellington resident and a former deputy director-general of health, has been appointed as a member of the Hutt Valley District Health Board and a Crown monitor on the Capital and Coast District Health Board. The two appointees will work with the district health boards to accelerate collaboration.