MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate use

2 December 2016

Unjustified hurtful attack on southern radiologists

“The criticism of radiologists at Southern District Health Board was an unjustified attack,” says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

He was commenting on reports that Southern DHB’s medical director of radiology had criticised long delays for ultrasound at Southland Hospital and had also described dealing with the DHB’s radiologists as the hardest part of her job: (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86994219/eight-month-wait-for-ultrasound-at-southland-hospital-is-completely-unacceptable-radiology-boss-says). This follows an early public attack on them (https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/health/director-takes-parting-shot-sdhb-radiology-staff).

Mr Powell said her comments were unfair. She was ignoring low morale among radiologists under her watch as a result of an abrasive leadership culture in the service that is out of touch with their day-to-day work realities.

“These are highly trained, experienced health professionals who are very committed to the public hospital system and have been working very hard to deliver a high quality service. It’s a bewildering attack, frankly, and it has caused a great deal of hurt.

“It should not be left to the union representing hospital specialists to defend them from unfair public attacks. Southern DHB should be defending them. Otherwise silence will be interpreted as consent.”

ENDS

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