DHB chief executive Brian Rousseau was asked by the Otago Daily Times yesterday for his response to the draft proposal for a charitable trust called the Wakatipu Community Health Board. The draft proposal was announced yesterday by the Queenstown Lakes District Council-appointed Wakatipu Health Governance Reference Group.
The draft proposed that five paid elected and appointed trustees take charge of the Lakes District Hospital, as well as plan for the long-term public health services, talk with the DHB and ensure good communication with the community. The draft was opened for public consultation until May 30.
After feedback, the draft proposal will be tabled for council endorsement on June 30, before it is considered by the DHB on July 30.
The interim Wakatipu Community Health Board could take effect on August 30.
Mr Rousseau said the draft proposal was expected, as the DHB encouraged the council to set up a health governance reference group last year.
"The detail of it is to come as a recommendation to the board, so that's something for the community to work out. I don't think it's appropriate I comment on what the community needs to discuss and we'll consider the final recommendation when it comes to the board in July."
Mr Rousseau said other local health governance bodies were formed by Bill English when he was health minister in the 1990s.
The DHB funds the service contract the local bodies undertake.
"I don't think they ever got round to Queenstown and so I suppose this is just picking up where that left off, really. The DHB hasn't had a view one way or the other in terms of whether there should be local governance.
"It's been up to the community and [reference group chairman] Graeme Todd and the group have picked that up and are running with it. The DHB has to consider what they come up with."
Mr Rousseau said he thought local governance groups elsewhere in the South worked "exceptionally well" with the DHB. Trusts had advantages over DHB-owned and operated health providers, he said.
"I look forward to eventually seeing the proposal from the reference group after it's gone through their process of consultation."
Mr Rousseau said he believed the DHB's controversial proposed recommendation to create an integrated family health centre could exist whichever governance was in place, because sustainability of health services within the available budget was one of the prime reasons for promoting the centre.
The proposed "one-stop shop" integrated health centre was the subject of heated debate when presented to the Wakatipu community on April 6. The concept will be discussed when a Ministry of Health team meets DHB management and clinicians, in Invercargill, tomorrow.
