Job cuts follow Starship row

By MARTIN JOHNSTON

The Auckland District Health Board's communications department is in line to be replaced after disagreements with chairman Wayne Brown.

The management describes the proposed "disestablishment" of the three full-time communications employees' jobs as solely a cost-cutting exercise, part of a wider administration review.

And Mr Brown says he and the board are not involved in the decision, which is entirely a management matter.

The three jobs, two of which are management positions, would be replaced by two communications co-ordinators and a public relations firm would be hired for "issues management" and strategic direction.

Several sources trace the restructuring to a souring of relations between Mr Brown and the communications unit, led by Brenda Saunders, over the board's failed attempt last year to scrap the name of Starship children's hospital.

"He's been gunning for them for a long time," one source said yesterday, mirroring the Herald's observations of his occasional outbursts, at public meetings, about their performance.

Board members, against management advice, quietly changed the name of Starship to Auckland City Hospital Children's Services, but after the Herald revealed the switch last year a public furore and Government warnings to listen to the community followed and the board backed down.

"Brenda tried to advise against any move to change the Starship name. There was apparently a lingering feeling she didn't do a good enough job of selling the [board's] idea," another source said.

After the Starship debacle, public relations firm Raynish & Partners said the board and then-chief executive Graeme Edmond had asked it to design a review of how the communications unit had handled the issue.

At the time, Mr Edmond - who later left after a dispute with board members - denied this, saying instead that the board had been investigating how Raynish could provide further help. The review, which some saw as an attack on Ms Saunders over the board's embarrassment, never took place.

Mr Brown yesterday denied gunning for the communications unit and said he did not blame Ms Saunders for the severe criticism he was subjected to over Starship. "I blame you [the Herald]."

"Even if I had felt grumpy about any of them, it's none of my business. We don't decide who stays and goes. The chief executive is hired to do that."

Ms Saunders, communications manager Megan Richards and communications assistant Rachael Parkin have several weeks to comment on the restructuring proposal put to them last week by chief executive Garry Smith.

When asked if the proposed changes were about perceived shortcomings of the unit, Mr Smith said: "This whole proposal is focused on cost savings and moving forward in a different way ... We have worked together successfully." He estimated the changes would save $85,000 a year.

Crisis points

April 2003: Herald reveals Auckland District Health Board has quietly renamed Starship children's hospital as Auckland City Hospital Children's Services.

Then-chief executive Graeme Edmond and communications head Brenda Saunders privately oppose the board's move.

May 2003: Board backs down after a Herald campaign, public outcry and Government warnings. Hospital later renamed Starship Children's Health.

May 2003: Public relations firm Raynish & Partners is asked to design a review of the board communications unit's handling of Starship issue. Review never happens.

July 2003: Mr Edmond resigns after a dispute with the board over his directorship of a medical supplies company.

July 2004: Proposal to replace the communications unit with a new set-up.