ATTENTION: HEALTH REPORTER
MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
WEDNESDAY 2 JULY 2008
“No Need For Public Alarm Over Health Planning For Lower North Island; Senior Doctor Leadership Required”
“There is no need for public alarm over health service planning in the lower North Island district health boards,” said
Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.
“It has already been agreed in our new national collective agreement that senior doctors are to play the lead role in
the planning of health services, including regional collaboration between DHBs. The role of health managers is to
support senior doctors in this work, not to lead the process. This requirement is also endorsed in a statement called
‘Time for Quality’ which has been endorsed by us, the government and DHBs.”
“Discussions on health planning in the lower North Island have yet to get to this stage of senior doctor leadership but
will have to before specific services are considered. The fact that these DHBs are keen to discuss regional
collaboration between them is to be welcomed, not condemned. We have been advocating this for some years.”
“The most likely outcome is health professional led increased health service collaboration, including sharing of
resources, between the lower North Island DHBs with the form of collaboration varying depending on what works best for
patients.”
“But this will only work well when health professional lead the decision-making,” concluded Mr Powell.
ends