Community focus for Bay's new health boss

By Paul Dykes
Improving community health will be a key target for the new Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief executive.
Board chairperson Mary Hackett has announced that former Waikato District Health Board executive Philip Cammish has been appointed as the chief executive and will take up the position in mid-January next year.
Mrs Hackett said Mr Cammish has gained a reputation as an exceptional leader in the health industry and she was looking forward to working with him to improve the Bay of Plenty population's health.
"I'm confident that Mr Cammish will be an enormous asset to the health board with his passion and enthusiasm for improving community health and health services," said Mrs Hackett.
Mr Cammish said he had a particular interest in improving community health, not at the expense of the hospital services but rather as a way to help hospital services cope with the ongoing pressure of limited resources.
He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and has extensive experience in the health sector in New Zealand and Australia.
After a varied general management background, Mr Cammish entered the health industry a decade ago, running various arms of Waikato Hospital, including radiology and clinical services, eventually becoming general manager of commercial and business development.
Mr Cammish then went on to lead the planning and funding team at the Waikato District Health Board before heading to Australia as district manager of the Cairns health service district, Queensland Health.
A keen beach-goer and sailor, Mr Cammish says that there were only a small number of jobs he would return to New Zealand for, and the Bay job was top of his list.
He said the transition back to New Zealand from Cairns will be made easier with the beautiful Bay of Plenty beaches.
Mr Cammish has a wife, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
Former health board chief executive Ron Dunham left the role in September.