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Waikato DHB commissioner optimistic issues can be turned around

Author
Jake McKee,
Publish Date
Thu, 20 Jun 2019, 9:51AM
Dr Karen Poutasi was appointed the DHB's Commissioner by Health Minister David Clark. (Photo / NZ Herald)
Dr Karen Poutasi was appointed the DHB's Commissioner by Health Minister David Clark. (Photo / NZ Herald)

Waikato DHB commissioner optimistic issues can be turned around

Author
Jake McKee,
Publish Date
Thu, 20 Jun 2019, 9:51AM

The new Commissioner of the Waikato District Health Board is confident its issues and financial woes can be turned around and it can be become a model for others.

Dr Karen Poutasi was appointed the DHB's Commissioner by Health Minister David Clark last month, replacing the troubled DHB's board.

She said six weeks into the role, it's still very early days, and she doesn't know how some issues will be resolved.

Poutasi has appointed three new deputy commissioners, and yesterday announced a new chief executive -the DHB's first permanent chief since October 2017.

"Everybody has risen to that challenge, of how do we do better with the resources that we've got, in a sustainable fashion."

The Commissioner hopes the DHB can be turned around by 2022 and other DHBs can follow its example.

Poutasi said other DHBs are also facing problems, including the Counties Manukau and Canterbury DHBs, whose financial plans haven't been signed off by Clark.

"We have way to go, but in working through these things you learn a lot.

"We would be very happy to share our learnings with others, as we turn ourselves into a successful district health board."

Poutasi said DHBs have changed significantly they were established under her, while she was Director-General of Health.

"I think there are opportunities that we haven't fully explored, in ensuring our services are seamless and aligned."

Poutasi said DHBs can offer better service delivery if each state of healthcare -- primary, secondary and tertiary -- are better aligned.

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