The National Party used parliamentary privilege yesterday to accuse former board member Peter Hausmann and board managers of colluding to give a company he partly owns, Healthcare New Zealand, favourable treatment in a tender process to provide a community laboratory service.
Mr Hausmann said yesterday he had faced wrong and unsubstantiated criticism during the past few weeks but would not break a confidentiality agreement about what was in the Director-general of Health's review to be released on Monday.
‘‘I am confident that the review panel report will explain clearly what happened at Hawkes Bay DHB, and will vindicate and explain my position.''
National health spokesman Tony Ryall used parliamentary privilege to read parts of the leaked Health Ministry draft.
He insinuated the Government had suppressed the draft because it exonerated the board and criticised Mr Hausmann, who was appointed by former Health Minister Annette King.
Mr Ryall read from parts of the draft.
‘‘Would the minister be concerned to hear that leaked findings of the review team's ‘version one' say: ‘There were significant barriers to a vendor other than Healthcare NZ succeeding with the proposal','' Mr Ryall told Parliament.
He further quoted from the report: ‘‘Peter Hausmann did not provide adequate disclosures to the board of his interest in the community services initiative''.
Mr Hausmann had been involved in drafting both the board paper recommending the DHB tender for community laboratory services and the tender documents themselves, he said.
Mr Hausmann said yesterday that when he came to the board he was enthusiastic, but he was ‘‘horrified'' to find the board was unprofessional and some members treated competent managers and staff poorly.
Efforts to challenge what was happening and raise concerns over board members' interests were not appreciated and he became a target, Mr Hausmann said.
He denied he improperly used his position to further his own interests and said he declared all interests repeatedly.
Health Minister David Cunliffe said he had yet to see the report, so could not comment on its exact contents.
