“Senior Doctors Welcome New Taranaki Health Appointment”
“Senior doctors welcome the appointment of Tony Foulkes as the new chief executive of the Taranaki District Health
Board,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.
“Mr Foulkes has a well earned reputation at the MidCentral District Health Board as a senior manager who is a good
listener and is willing to tap into the expertise of senior doctors and other health professionals.”
“He comes to Taranaki at a very difficult time. For some years Taranaki was dominated by an autocratic and divisive
top-down managerial style. Overcoming this will be a major challenge for Mr Foulkes. Senior doctors will be keen to work
with him in ensuring that a more cooperative and effective culture can develop.”
“Fortunately acting chief executive Mary Bonner played an excellent transitional role in starting the turn-around. She
was highly thought of by senior doctors. Mr Foulkes will need to build on the early foundations that she was critical in
initiating,” concluded Mr Powell.