Wanganui Area Health Board Steering Committee
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Report of the Wanganui Area Health Board Steering Committee 0 to the Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr. Michael Bassett JULY 1985 WANGANUI AREA HEALTH BOARD STEERING COMMITTEE P 0 BOX 287 WANGANUI 4 July 1985 Hon. Or M Bassett Minister of Health Parliament Buildings WELLINGTON Dear Or Bassett The presentation of this report is the culmination of: (1) three months intensive research and consultation by the Wanganui Area Health Board Steering Committee and its Advisory Group, (2) seven years interest and close study of Area Health Boards by members of the Wanganui Hospital Board, and, (3) . three years investigation and experimentation by the Wanganui Area Health Co-ordinating Committee (comprising representatives of the District Office of the Health Department, Wanganui United Council, New Zealand Medical Association, Ministry of Works and Development, Lake Alice Hospital, and . the Wanganui Hospital Board) of the feasibility, of the concept of an Area Health Board for the Wanganui Region. I would like to express my deep and sincere appreciation to all who have been associated with this exciting and challenging task, for their extremely hard work and enthusiastic dedication. The calibre and expertise of the members of the Steering Committee, the personal commitment and responsibility each has shown in their broad approach, attendance at meetings and the zealous manner in which they have carried out their Terms of Reference must be acknowledged with deep gratitude. The encouragement and assistance provided by you as Minister of Health, the Director-General of Health, Or Ron Barker; Officials of the Department of Health; the Health Service Personnel Commission; and the active participation, invaluable input and advice provided initially by Dr Derek Taylor and then by Or Bryan Christmas, the Deputy Director- General of Health (Public Health), is a measure of and tribute to the support and co-operation we have received. Throughout the Steering Committees deliberations, the Advisory Committee (comprised of the Executive Staff of the District Office, Lake Alice Hospital, and the Wanganui Hospital Board, and the Hospital Boards Planning Officer) have been an invaluable resource and advisory group. Without their assistance, loyalty and application to the many tasks referred to them and to the objectives and philosophy of an Area Health Board, the task set for the Steering Committee would not have been possible to achieve. For all of us, health care is a partnership between the traditional health people - those who work in the hospitals and those in the community. The important practical and successful expression of this with an Area Health Board is in the formation of Service Development Groups and Community Committees. The establishment of Service Development Groups ensures the practical involvement of professional people with intimate knowledge of special and particular health needs for the voluntary, private and public sectors in the planning and evaluation of services. The appointment of Community Committees will provide the important community link between their areas and the Area Health Board. This will intimately involve all in the achievement of a better organisation and improvement of our health services. As Minister of Health you have given advice that you see the future of Lake Alice Hospital as being part of the proposed Wanganui Area Health Board. The bringing together of the two public funded hospital systems within the Wanganui Area Health Board District is a logical step in the formation of an Area Health Board with its emphasis on service development planning and the provision of comprehensive services. All State funded mental health services in the district will therefore come under the control of an Area Health Board, with participation from health professionals in service planning, oversight from the Health Department, and participation from Community Committees. Grateful thanks must be extended to the members of the various professional groups, the voluntary organisations, the Trades Council, and the members of the general public, who have shared so honestly with us their viewpoints, the expression of which have been so important to the Steering Committee in their deliberations. In conclusion I would like to record my personal thanks to all members of the Steering Committee and the Advisory Group - it has been a privilege and a pleasure to have worked so closely with each and every one of them. Yours faithfully L/L^ AU^ BETTY BOURKE Chairman Wanganui Area Health Board Steering Committee CONTENTS Page LIST OF MEMBERS 1 LIST OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS 3 TERMS OF REFERENCE 5 1. RECOMMENDATIONS 7 2. INTRODUCTION 13 3. FACTORS AFFECTING REGIONAL RE-ORGANISATION 15 4. WANGANUI AREA HEALTH BOARD 19 1. The Board and its Management 19 Summary of Recommendations 33 Service Development 37 2. Summary of Recommendations 40 3. Communications and Community 43 Involvement Summary of Recommendations 46 Finance 49 4. Summary of Recommendations 50 5. Personnel 53 Summary of Recommendations 5. FURTHER ACTION 59 APPENDIX Steering Committee Meetings 63 Representation and Constituent Areas 64 Consultation and Communication 65 Funding Report 73 Personnel Matters 8. Notes of Meeting with Director, Dental Division 92 Ministerial Advice Concerning Lake Alice Hospital 94 Background Paper - Wanganui Area Health Board Steering Committee 95 Tasks for Steering Committee 104 Area Health Board Act - Division of Responsibility 107 List of Resource Material 110 Personal Statement by Mr G H Neill 113 -1- WANGANIJI AREA HEALTH BOARD STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP Mrs B Bourke, OSM, JP, Chairman, Wanganui Hospital (Chairman) Board; Member Patea Hospital Management Committee, Patea. Dr B W Christmas Deputy Director General of (from May 1985) Health (Public Health), Department of Health; Wellington. Mr G H Neill Deputy Principal, Wanganui Regional Community College; Wanganui Mrs L Noble Member, Wanganui Hospital Board; Chairman, Council for the Ageing; Wanganui. Mr d E ONeill Wanganui County Councillor; President, Federation of NZ Ostomy Societies; Kakatahi. Mrs R Rei, OSM, JP Member, Wanganui Regional Community College Council; former Community Officer with Department of Maori Affairs; Wanganui Mr R G Russell, OSO Former Mayor, Wanganui City Council; Former Chairman Wanganui United Council Wanganui Dr C N D Taylor Former Deputy Director General (until May 1985) of Health, (Public Health); Palmerston North. Mr H D Treadwell, JP Former member, Rangitikei County Council; former member, Wanganui United Council; NZ Vice-President Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand; Taihape. Mr I C Webster Chairman, Wanganui Newspapers; Wanganui -3- ADVISORY COMMITTEE Miss D A Bowen Principal Public Health Nurse, Department of Health, Wanganui. Mr J Boyack, JP Chief Executive, Wanganui Hospital Board, Wanganui Mr D J Cairns Principal Inspector of Health, Department of Health, Wanganui Dr R W England Medical Superintendent-in- Chief, Wanganui Hospital Board, Wanganui. Mr P G Hales District Executive Officer, Department of Health, Wanganui. Mr S F Jackson Advisory Officer, Department of (from May 1985) Health, Wanganui. Mr J J B Moar Secretary, Lake Alice Hospital, Marton Mr T Quinlan Principal Nurse, Lake Alice Hospital, Marton. Mrs S J Smail Chief Nurse, Wanganui Hospital Board, Wanganui. Dr K D B Thomson, O.B.E. Medical Officer of Health, Department of Health, Wanganui -5- TERMS OF REFERENCE i To ensure that there is adequate community support for the establishment of an Area Health Board. ii To complete the report to the Minister no later than 1 July 195. iii To establish as necessary working parties to consider and investigate specific areas for inclusion in any final report. iv To ensure that all administrative prerequisites are completed in readiness for the target date of 1 October 1985. v To investigate the procedures necessary to ensure the smooth transfer of the Wanganui Hospital Board and the Wanganui District Office of Health into an Area Health Board as set down by the Area Health Boards Act and the Health Service Personnel Act. vi To establish a system of communication through which organisations in the Wanganui Hospital Board Area can be kept informed of developments and have the opportunity to make submissions to the Steering Committee. vii To identify any matters as listed in the Area Health Boards Act 1983 and any other matters which require further clarification. -7- SECTION 1 RECOMMENDATIONS 1.1 The Steering Committee recommends Area Health Board 1.1.1 That a Wanganui Area Health Board be a new corporate body incorporating the District Office of the Department of Health, Lake Alice Hospital, and the Wanganui Hospital Board. 1.1.2 That the services provided by the Wanganui District Office of the Department of Health to the Taumarunui District continue to be provided by a Wanganui Area Health Board. 1.1.3 That the responsibility for the School Dental Service within the boundaries of the Wanganui Area Health Board be transferred from the Department of Health to the Wanganui Area Health Board. 1.1.4 That negotiations take place for the employment of the Principal Dental Officer attached to the Palmerston North District Office to be employed on a part-time basis by the Wanganui Area Health Board as its Principal Dental Officer. 1.1.5 That when a local authority is without an Inspector of Health the Wanganui Area Health Board may make an Inspector of Health available to the local authority to perform statutory health functions at an appropriate cost. 1.1.6 That a Wanganui Area Health Board not duplicate the traditional medical role of the General Practitioner, but in consultation with the NZ Medical Association may provide emergency cover to a community temporarily without services. 1.1.7 That a Wanganui Area Health Board establish a full and suitable working relationship involving regular consultation with the Wanganui Division of the NZ Medical Association as the official and recognised professional body of registered medical practitioners. 1.1.8 That the Wanganui Area Health Board grant direct access to duly appointed representatives of the Wanganui Division of the NZ Medical Association.