Community Reps Appointed to Hospitals

Health Minister Bill English today announced that 17 people nominated by their communities would be appointed to 11 of the country's hospital boards.

"This is the first significant group of people appointed to hospitals since the intention to appoint people nominated from the community was announced a year ago. Up to two positions on each board are available for community nominations.

"The first community nominations were announced in May when the new boards were appointed to run the two Bay of Plenty hospitals - Western Bay Health and Eastbay Health.

"I am pleased to be able to make these latest appointments. The process has taken a little longer than anticipated, but we now have some excellent new directors on our hospital boards. Not all local authorities have chosen to make nominations, but the option is still open to them if they wish to do so in future," said Mr English.

Health Waikato: Ms Margaret Evans is the retiring mayor of Hamilton and has a particular interest in health issues. Throughout her three terms in office, she has been instrumental in introducing and gaining acceptance for change. Such change includes implementing strong financial management, community involvement and balanced policies to Hamilton City Council area.

Mr Ian Glennie is a Taumarunui-based business consultant and farmer. As a member of the District Health Committee he was involved in the initial round of health restructuring. Mr Glennie's experience in team management, strategic planning and industrial relations will be of immense value to the Board. His community involvements in the comparatively isolated Taumarunui area will add another perspective to the board.

Healthcare Hawkes Bay: Ms Jean Taylor is a former nurse from the Napier hospital and, until recently, was the chief executive of Wairoa Hospital. Ms Taylor's knowledge of hospital management culture will make her a valued member of the Board.

Taranaki Healthcare: Moira Irving is a New Plymouth resident and a former director on this board. She resigned to improve her qualifications as a director and as a business consultant and has expressed a wish to rejoin the board. Her professional role is as an investment advisor. Ms Irving has displayed as impressive understanding of the business and of how it can better deliver health services to the community.

Mr Bruce Milliard is a Hawera-based barrister and solicitor. He is a first term director on Taranaki Healthcare and is a community nomination for reappointment to the board. He has been involved the Hawera hospital redevelopment and is familiar with local issues.

Good Health Wanganui: Mr Graeme Meyers is a partner in a Wanganui chartered accountancy firm with extensive experience in financial management, strategic planning and business restructuring. His has previous experience as a company director and his community involvements include being a member of a local college and polytechnic as well as his being an office-holder in the Presbyterian Support Services.

Ms Diana Valentine is a registered nurse and has been involved in community health groups in the Wanganui area for a number of years. A number of these groups have been charged with investigating change to the provision of health care services, and Ms Valentine has played a key role in consulting and negotiating with stakeholders. She will also bring a Rangitikei perspective to the board.

MidCentral Health: Mr Ormond Stock is a Principal in a Palmerston North engineering consultancy firm. He has a close professional involvement with Manawatu local authorities. His appointment is important to the Board's overview of MidCentral Health's major site development programme and his information technology background will also be of value to the Board.

Ms Suzanne Price is a property consultant and has recently resigned from a local authority senior management appointment. In this latter role she worked with a number of community interest groups to facilitate local housing and community facilities. Besides her community liaison experience, Ms Price is an experienced business woman.

Hutt Valley Health: Ms Marian Redwood is a senior teacher and EEO policy officer at Wellington College. She has had a 15 year involvement in community affairs. Ms Redwood is the staff representative on the college Board of Trustees. She is a member of a number of education-related organisations.

Capital Coast Health: Mrs Margaret Faulkner QSM is the manager of War Pensions within Income Support and chairperson of Whiteireia Community Polytechnic. She is a member of a number of health and social services organisations in the Porirua area, is a qualified nurse and has managed small hospitals.

Coast Healthcare: Ms Elinor Stratford is a registered nurse and midwife and has held a number of nursing, academic and management positions in the health area. As a long time resident of Greymouth, she is able to bring to the Board valuable knowledge of the West Coast's health care needs. This, together with Ms Stratford's clinical background, should see her play a key role in developing dialogue between the community and health care professionals.

Canterbury Health: Ms Allison Craw. As a long time resident and District Councillor in Banks Peninsula, Ms Craw has a comprehensive understanding of local issues. This knowledge is supplemented by the various health roles that she has held during the last 30 years including terms as President of the Banks Peninsula Branch of the Plunket Society, Chair of the Akaroa Ward Health Steering Committee and more recently as a member of the Southern Regional Health Consultation Committee.

Healthlink South: Mr Colin Notley is a Principal of a Christchurch management consultancy firm. He has a strong financial background, having held a number of senior positions in the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand, including a term as President. Mr Notley is also a member of the Institute of Directors.

Healthcare Otago: Mr Walter Dalziel is the Chair of Tuapeka Community Health Company Ltd, a charitable community owned company providing health care services to the Tuapeka District. In this role, Mr Dalziel has been successful in encouraging community representatives and health professionals to work together to deliver integrated health care services that meet the needs of both the community and health professionals.

Southern Health: Mr Neville Cook is a Superintendent in New Zealand Police, holding the position of District Manager of Southland since 1993. A key focus of this role has been to ensure that the Police are responsive to the needs of the Southland community. Mr Cook's skill in building partnerships between service providers and their communities will be invaluable to the Board.

Ms Anna Mills is the Chair of National Radio for Te Anau. In this role she has developed both governance skills and an understanding of the complexities that arise between resource demand and supply. These, together with her previous health policy work in both the Department of Health and the Treasury, will see her play a key role in the Board's strategic planning.