DHB faces least criticism over contamination + VIDEO

The Hawke's Bay District Health Board came in for the least criticism of all parties at yesterday's report on the Havelock North water inquiry, but improvements could always be made, CE Kevin Snee said.

Following the Inquiry hearing yesterday, Dr Snee said its findings were important to ensure "an event of this magnitude doesn't happen again".

"Overall I'm pleased with the way the health system managed the outbreak, which is reflected from the summary released by the Inquiry panel," he said.

Speaking outside the Hastings district courthouse yesterday, he acknowledged that the panel confirmed that the DHB did well throughout.

He noted that some DHB communications had not been as good as they could be, but that in general when managing the outbreak itself the organisation acted promptly.

"This was the largest ever recorded outbreak of campylobacter - and the health system coped. There are things we could have done better, and we have worked to address many of those.

"The inquiry has come to a considered view and it's now up to the councils to rectify any problems - we all need to learn any lessons."

He said part of rectifying the problems was the creation of the Joint Working Group (JWG), established late last year, which he described at the time as a breakthrough.

During last year's hearings the JWG, which comprises representation from Hastings District Council, Hawke's Bay Regional Council, the DHB and drinking water assessors, was directed by the panel to meet regularly and share information about any potential drinking water safety risk.

"That's what we have tried to do and this is building relationships with the organisations locally," Dr Snee, who brokered the group, said.

He said the HBDHB understood the Inquiry's work was not complete, and they would assist the panel as it moved to identify systemic issues and system changes which might be required to ensure drinking water was safe throughout New Zealand.