PHOTO
Dr Conway Powell has been appointed chairman of a transition board that will set up a single primary health organisation (PHO) across Otago and Southland.
The new PHO will replace the nine existing PHOs across both regions.
The transition board will have a finite life and once the new PHO is created, it will hand over governance to a new board.
Dr Powell and the Otago and Southland District Health Boards will decide on the membership of the transition board, which will include four clinical leaders (two GPs, one nurse and one pharmacist), three representatives from existing PHO boards, and one Maori representative.
Regional general manager planning and funding David Chrisp said Dr Powell, the National Party South Dunedin candidate in the last election, brought "a wealth of knowledge and experience" to the role.
He is a plant scientist with a PhD in botany, and was a scientist and director of research centres until 1992.
His involvement in the health sector since then had included being a senior manager in the Southern Regional Health Authority for five years in the mid-'90s, and he runs his own consultancy business, which works with PHOs, general practices, independent practitioner associations and community-based pharmacies throughout the country.
Dr Powell is also a director of the Health Research Council and a part-owner of the Meridian Medical Centre in Dunedin, Mr Chrisp said.
Dr Powell said he was keen for the transition board to connect closely with organisations and stakeholders in primary health in Otago and Southland.
"I am very keen to hear views, suggestions and comments from people in both rural and urban communities about how we can all work together to develop the best possible primary health-care for the people of the southern South Island."
The board is expected to organise the transition by July.