King says compromise should be found over Starship name

3.00pm

Health Minister Annette King believes a compromise should be found over plans to drop the name Starship from the national children's hospital in Auckland.

Ms King said today she would not intervene as the board was elected to make decisions, but the Auckland District Health Board should listen to what people were saying.

"They have got an obligation to ensure they listen to their community and the strong message they are getting is that their community thinks the name Starship is a suitable name," Ms King said.

The proposed name change to Auckland City Hospital Children's Services has angered Starship Foundation trustees, parents of patients, doctors, politicians and some members of the public.

Ms King said there should have been wider consultation over the name change and in particular the trust should have been talked to.

Health Board chairman Wayne Brown has said the name loss is due to the merger of Starship, Greenlane, National Women's and Auckland Hospitals on to one site.

Ms King said she supported the centralisation of hospital services but a compromise should be found over the name of the children's hospital.

"There is a large trust that has been established, that has worked for a number of years to put a focus on raising money for Starship. That probably makes it a little bit different from other parts of Auckland hospital and that should have been considered," Ms King said.

The Auckland DHB wanted the name change to signal a move in focus, from high-tech hospitals to community-based healthcare.

Ms King supported the aims of the DHBs, but those aims were not incompatible with ensuring the good work done under the Starship name continued. She would not suggest what the compromise would look like.

The minister has a power to direct DHBs, but that would not be used.

"People asked for a long time to have some say in what happens in their communities. We are certainly not going to falter at the first hurdle when it comes to a name."

Actor Lucy Lawless, a trustee on the fundraising Starship Foundation , called the change a "nonsense" she hoped could be reversed.

The Starship Foundation generates more than $3.5 million a year for the hospital, buying equipment the Government does not buy.

National Leader Bill English said the name meant a lot to people around New Zealand and prompted community support.

New Zealand First's health spokesman Pita Paraone said he was astounded the board was wasting time and money arguing over names.

"Is this name change going to reduce the Auckland DHB deficit? Will it mean better use of health resources in Auckland?" Mr Paraone asked.

"Instead of arguing about hospital names, board members should get on with the job they are paid for. Why try to fix something that is not broken?"

- NZPA