Blake leaving health board

Vivian Blake.
Vivian Blake.
Having missed out on the second-in-charge role at the Southern District Health Board, Vivian Blake is leaving after nine years as Otago chief operating officer.

Yesterday, she acknowledged disappointment at not securing the position of "executive director of patient services" to which Southland chief operating officer Lexie O'Shea was appointed.

The high-level reshuffle aims to streamline the DHB's upper echelons, and assist decision-making and management on an Otago-Southland level.

Mrs O'Shea will also be deputy chief executive, a role she held previously.

Mrs Blake, who finishes on Friday, said she was extremely proud of the DHB and its staff.

"I came for three ... nine years later I'm still here.

"That's got an awful lot to do with the commitment and the amazing loyalty of the staff."

Asked if Mrs O'Shea's position was too big for one person, Mrs Blake said no.

The new structure made sense, she said.

"We possibly should have done this two years ago when we amalgamated [Otago and Southland DHBs] but I don't think we were ready at that point."

The two DHBs merged in May 2010, but progress on becoming one organisation in practice as well as in name has been more difficult than expected.

Mrs Blake said restructuring was needed further down the organisation, once the new executive took effect on July 2.

"We need to make sure we have one structure for one organisation.

"At the moment it's not. There aren't clear accountabilities in some areas."

Asked to name the biggest challenge of her time at the DHB, the "battle of the deficit" had been difficult, she said.

"I think we're pretty lean and mean, although there's still some waste in the system."

Mrs Blake did not rule out returning to the DHB at some point in a different position, but said it would have to be the right role. It was possible she would end up leaving Dunedin for work, but that would not be a decision made lightly.

In an email to DHB staff, chief executive Carole Heatly thanked Mrs Blake.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Vivian Blake for the hard work, leadership and dedication she has shown over the past nine years and wish her all the best with her decision to seek new opportunities outside the DHB," she said.

Further announcements of appointments are expected in the next couple of weeks.

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

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