Resignation Of CEO Unfortunate For The CCDHB Region
“The resignation of Ken Whelan, Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) Chief Executive is a huge loss for the
communities that this DHB provides and funds health services for” says Mal Robson, Chair of Well Health Primary Health
Organisation PHO.
Justine Thorpe of Well Health, describes Ken as “a courageous leader who has led, with integrity and credibility, over
what has been a challenging two and a half years. We valued his leadership and the excellent relationships between C DHB and our PHOs serving high needs populations”.
Well Health believes Mr Whelan’s resignation is a consequence of the expectations and pressures that Capital and Coast
region were under to make savings and reduce the DHB’s deficit.
Losing frontline services to achieve “better sooner more convenient” health services is not part of the policy plan says
Mr Robson. Sadly the services that provide low cost access for those who cannot afford basic primary care are being hit
hard – hopefully these patients will have an Emergency Department when their ailments become a lot worse!
“The risk of reduced access to health services and an increase in the inequality gap has now become real for the Capital
and Coast region” says Ms Thorpe.
Well Health urgently requests that the Government rethinks its Health savings plan and take into consideration the long
term consequences of cutting services where they are needed most.
ENDS