The Southern District Health Board has announced the medical
directors of its new clinical departments.
New restructured departments now cover both Otago and
Southland, and the medical roles are more powerful because of
a different decision-making process the board has introduced.
The appointees are: Surgical, Murray Fosbender; older
person's health, clinical support and community, Dr Stephen
Chalcroft; mental health, addictions and intellectual
disability, Dr James Knight; women's, children's and public
health, Dr Marion Poore.
The role of director of the medical department - which has
the most staff of the five departments, at 730 - was not
filled internally and would be advertised, an email to health
board staff said yesterday.
Dr Brendon Rae had been seconded to the role in the meantime.
Apart from Mr Fosbender, who is based in Invercargill, the
other clinical heads are Dunedin-based. However, a spokesman
said the locations of the new roles was still being worked
out.
Staff submissions on the changes raised concerns the new
roles were too big.
The roles took effect on December 10, apart from Dr Poore,
whose role is effective from January 7.
In the email to staff, patient services medical director Dick
Bunton said the appointees would be making contact with
colleagues to familiarise themselves with their new roles.
The board has previously announced appointees to the general
manager and nursing leader roles in the five new departments.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.