Health NZ Commissioner Lester Levy steps in to prevent staff losing Milo

By Ruth Hill of RNZ

The man in charge of the country’s public health system has stepped in to ensure all staff can still have a drink of Milo at work.

In a message to staff on Wednesday posted on an internal webpage, Health New Zealand advised that an earlier decision to restrict supplies of the malty beverage had been personally overturned by the Health NZ Commissioner, Dr Lester Levy.

“Milo will remain available to all. Authorised staff will be able to make Milo purchases using the same system as before. We appreciate all the work that you are doing – thank you.”

Health NZ Commissioner Lester Levy. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Levy was installed as commissioner by Health Minister Shane Reti in July, after Reti sacked the board following revelations that Te Whatu Ora was haemorrhaging $147 million a month.

He has been spearheading a wide-ranging suite of cost-cutting measures, including the provision of hot drinks under the central procurement system.

Before the intervention of the commissioner, the purchase of Milo was to be limited to when it was required “for clinical reasons or under contractual arrangements”.

Some staff – while grateful to have their Milo access restored – were bemused by the move, at a time when support staff were losing their jobs and many services were struggling with the recruitment freeze.

“This feels like the commissioner is micromanaging a budget and that’s concerning when making cuts,” one clinical staff member said.

- RNZ

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