Under siege Capital and Coast District Health Board chief executive Margot Mains will leave her job before earlier than planned.
She announced her resignation in August after eight years' service, saying she was going to concentrate more on her family and work-life balance. She was expected to remainin her position until February.
However, she said yesterday that she would leave on December 21. The announcement comes only days after the details of a highly critical audit of the DHB became public.
The audit, which was performed for the Health Ministry in July by Telarc, formerly Quality Health New Zealand, found widespread systemic problems and "a culture of distrust" between clinicians and management.
Health Minister David Cunliffe, who met Ms Mains and board chairwoman Judith Aitken on Tuesday, said he might have to reconsider their positions if urgent action was not taken.
Dr Aitken told the Dominion Post Ms Mains had decided to resign earlier than intended to "minimise the impact of any changes at the senior level on the organisation over the next three months".
Ms Mains left yesterday on a two-week, board-paid, professional development trip to Oxford University.
Board financial director Calum Laurie has taken over her duties while she is on study leave.
Dr Aitken said an acting chief executive, to be announced soon, would remain in place until a new chief executive was employed next year.
