New centralised health structure akin to ‘building the plane while trying to fly it’ — Greymouth mayor

The Team Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

The set up of Health NZ on the West Coast is akin to "building the plane while trying to fly it," Greymouth mayor Tania Gibson says.

Gibson made the comment after it emerged the Health NZ board - which from last month replaced the former West Coast District Health Board and centralised all DHB governance and management functions - held its August meeting 'behind closed doors'.

Members of the public were not allowed to attend, a summary agenda only was provided for the public, and media were excluded but offered "an update" after the proceedings in a prearranged video call.

The last chairman of the former West Coast DHB, former Labour cabinet minister Rick Barker, said he was "reluctant to comment" either way on how the new structure was unfolding.

However, the DHB's former deputy chairman Tony Kokshoorn said it did not bode well.

"Where you are in any public organisation - whether it be a DHB or a council or anything, being transparent is paramount. You have to have a line open to the public all the time."

Kokshoorn said otherwise, it would lead to speculation: "It straight away opens it up to conspiracy and rumour."

With no open board meeting what might be communicated afterwards could be predetermined, he said.

"The problem is that their view (management) is one that suits them. That's just perfect for the management of a hospital system."

Former board member and long-time West Coast health activist Peter Neame said he viewed the new structure as "little different" from the Labour and National-led radical health reforms of the early 1990s. Those introduced a corporate mindset and political appointees.

Some of the architects from that period were being used as advisers for the current reform, he said.

"In my opinion the set up is from Helen Clark and her adviser Heather Simpson. It's already been admitted by the Labour Government that she is the chief adviser for the health reform," Neame said.

"What's happened with health care is we've gone backwards."

In April the Government announced the West Coast would be the sole South Island location as one of nine locality pilots for Health NZ.

It emerged the model would need the region's councils to help facilitate public consultation. which the local mayors saw as an imposition.

Gibson said that the matter had come up at a recent West Coast mayors and chairs forum.

"We got engaged in it earlier in the piece but we've said we want to wait until there was a clear view what would be required for us. We're still waiting to see what exactly council involvement is."

Whatever it was, it felt like another imposed job on local councils, she said.

"We don't have any extra resources; we're floundering to keep the resources we've got."