Clive Solomon resigned from Wanganui Hospital last year but is fighting to keep his place on the health board. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle
Wanganui consultant surgeon Clive Solomon will put up a fight against moves to kick him off the local district health board.
Mr Solomon has caused waves since resigning from Wanganui Hospital last November, labelling it unsafe and calling on the Ministry of Health to step in.
The hospital
has attracted criticism over bungled sterilisation procedures and a full-scale review is under way.
Mr Solomon, who is now working in private practice, has remained a member of the Whanganui District Health Board, to which he was elected in 2004.
But this week he was served with notice of a special meeting, to be held today, to decide whether he should be censured and removed from the board.
Mr Solomon said he was upset by the move. "I don't think I deserve this."
He was "perplexed" by the notice, saying the board had not raised any specific comment he had made that it regarded as a problem.
"I've actually been kind of quiet for the last two months."
Mr Solomon said his only agenda was to improve the health service in Wanganui.
"I have used every quiet and legitimate path over the last two years, while watching the place crumbling around me. I haven't just arrived here, I've been here since 1991."
Since he first began speaking publicly about the problems at Wanganui Hospital improvements had been made.
He was not saying the changes were just because of him, but there had been a groundswell on certain issues.
For example, there had been a strong move to take the paediatrics department away from Wanganui and centre it in Palmerston North.
"There was a petition which got 3000 signatures, which I had nothing to do with.
"There was a public march with about 500 people which I spoke at but did not organise.
"And I spoke out about it - and the combined result was that a superb group of paediatricians came to Wanganui, which now has possibly the best paediatric department of any regional centre."
Mr Solomon said he would fight any move to kick him off the board and he was seeking legal advice over the process followed.
He would continue to be outspoken, as he felt it was far better to speak out than put a lid on issues critical to public health.
- NZPA
