'Continuing dialogue' delays DHB work plan

Kathy Grant
Kathy Grant
Wrangling between Wellington and Dunedin means a long-awaited work plan from the team brought in to run the Southern District Health Board is delayed.

But commissioner Kathy Grant is not concerned by what she calls a ''process of continuing dialogue''.

''Various drafts have been submitted and commented on; it's a bit of a backwards and forwards process.''

The delay reflected the ''new territory'' the board entered after its members were sacked and replaced by a commissioner team.

The plan must get a stamp of approval from the Ministry of Health.

The Otago Daily Times was told previously to expect it at the end of September, or start of October, and staff forums about it were to be as early as the middle of this month.

The plan will spell out the commissioner team's plans until December 2016, when the team

departs. Members have been working on it since they were appointed almost four months ago.

Mrs Grant hoped the plan would be signed off soon and that staff forums would get under way this month.

New Zealand Nurses' Organisation organiser Lorraine Lobb said everyone was waiting to see the plan.

''It is very quiet.

''Every time you ask about the commissioner and what's happening, all you hear is this work plan's coming out.

''Goodness only knows what might be in the work plan. I guess like everybody else, we're going to have to wait and see,'' Ms Lobb said.

Mrs Grant declined to give any hints about what it contained.

She cited commissioner updates and staff reports made available on the board's website as proof the commissioner team was providing information to the public.

There have been no monthly meetings since board members were sacked by Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman.

The work plan is separate from the board's annual plan, which also needs to be signed off, and Mrs Grant said they were probably being considered together.

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

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