Southern District Health Board call for local with 'mana'

Carole Heatly says if the board is replaced with a commissioner, they must be a local with experience and mana. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Embattled Southern District Health Board chief executive Carole Heatly says if the board is replaced with a commissioner, they must be a local with experience and mana. Whatever happens, she would like to keep her job.

''I would hope so,'' she said yesterday when asked.

''But of course that would be for the board as it currently stands because they appointed me, and then a commissioner [if] they're appointed.''

Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman has told the board it must make a case why it should not be sacked.

He is widely expected to go ahead with the move, after months of uncertainty.

Ms Heatly, however, said she believed it was a genuine process and not a foregone conclusion.

''I hope that whatever happens ... that I'm given the opportunity to sit down and talk to them about my team and my performance over the last three years and what we have achieved, [as well as] areas where we've found particular challenges.

''Hopefully, if that's the route that the minister takes, then it's the right decision, and he is able to find someone who has lots of experience and lots of mana.''

It needed to be someone from the South.

''I think it would be hugely beneficial ... if it was someone local, somebody with real presence; somebody who knows Southern; somebody who knows the culture down here; somebody who can relate to living in rural isolated communities far away from the centre.''

Ms Heatly said her comments should not be seen as a criticism of departing chairman Joe Butterfield, of Timaru, who spent a ''phenomenal'' amount of time in the South.

The board served an ageing population, ''not a growing population'', which posed ''specific challenges'' under population-based funding.

She stopped short of criticising the Government over the controversial formula, which some believe shortchanges the South.

''We've been managing to the best of our abilities with the resources that we have.''

Ms Heatly was asked whether she had fronted up enough in public during her tenure.

''If the public don't think I'm out there and fronting them enough, then I would apologise for that, and say I'm happy to stand up in front of the public whenever and wherever.

''I think that's demonstrated by the three meetings that I've just fronted up in Central Otago.''

Ms Heatly and her senior colleagues have been under pressure as attempts to cut costs hit a wall of opposition, particularly in rural areas.

She acknowledged it had been a ''really tough time'', but also pointed out pleasing gains in clinical health target areas.

Ms Heatly said her senior management team felt understandably anxious about the situation, but stayed busy with day-to-day work.

''All I want is the best for Southern District Health Board, whatever that is.''

Ms Heatly, who is Scottish, was recruited from England. She started with the SDHB in March 2012.

- Otago Daily Times