Work with Te Whatuiapiti Trust Resolved

HBDHB Board resolves to work with Te Whatuiapiti Trust to strengthen governance and management of organisation

Following a second audit focusing on the financial practices of Te Whatuiapiti Trust, Hawke’s Bay District Health Board is satisfied that there are no significant issues around the Trust’s finances.

District Health Board, chief executive officer, Chris Clarke said there were a number of issues highlighted in the first audit, which required further investigation. “This resulted in an audit team carrying out an in-depth review of the Trust’s accounting treatment of year-end balances, retained earnings, cheque book balances and the use of some trust assets.

“Now that the Trust has been cleared of any serious financial irregularities, the Board has resolved to work with the Trust to strengthen its governance and management structures, to ensure the people of Te Hauke, Otane and surrounds continue to receive appropriate health services in their community.

“The initial allegations have damaged the confidence many people in the small rural community have in the Trust and its staff, and regaining their confidence will take time, and will require the Trust to deliver on the improvement plans that have been agreed with the DHB.

Mr Clarke said the process had been a milestone event for Hawke’s Bay District Health Board. “It has certainly made us review the way we monitor providers and has challenged our thinking on our role in supporting providers to ensure Hawke’s Bay people have access to the right services, in the right place, at the right time.

“We are acutely aware of our responsibility is to ensure the best value for every health dollar spent in Hawke’s Bay, and we will be working with Te Whatuiapiti Trust to ensure that money invested results in improved outcomes for people using their services.

“Several hui are being planned in Central Hawke’s Bay to discuss the audit report findings with the community. These are being scheduled over the next few weeks.

“Importantly, the auditors found that overall services provided by the Trust were satisfactory – however, there is always room for improvement, and plans are underway to build and increase capacity and capability of Te Whatuiapiti Trust.

At today’s Board meeting, Board members resolved that:

The Trust have agreed to a six-month ‘workout’ plan to address governance, management and service issues identified Key deliverables will be mapped to the Te Whatuiapiti Trust contract with the District Health Board, and in particular:

The governance of Te Whatuiapiti Trust be strengthened with appropriately qualified people as part of their ongoing contract with the District Health Board. Te Whatuiapiti Trust are required to review current management structure to strengthen the skill mix of senior staff as part of their ongoing contract with the District Health Board. Staff overpayments be recovered by the Trustees, and details confirmed with the District Health Board. The Trust in consultation with Hawke’s Bay Maori agree to work with the District Health Board to rebuild community confidence in the services provided in Central Hawke’s Bay

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