“DEPARTING HEALTH BOSS PRAISED BY SENIOR DOCTORS UNION; NO KISS OF DEATH INTENDED”

“The departure of Northland District Health Board chief executive Ken Whelan will be a loss to the public health service and will be missed,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today. Mr Whelan is moving to Queensland to take up a position in Townsville.

“While from time to time there were important differences between senior doctors and management in Northland, we found Mr Whelan fair, honest and good to work with. In our experience he compares very favourably with other chief executives in New Zealand. He also played an important role in improving the coordination between rural based district health boards.”

“There is a depressing shortage of managerial talent in New Zealand and we can’t afford to lose what limited talent we have got. New Zealand’s loss is Townsville’s gain. There is something about this that just isn’t cricket.”

“It is unusual for our union to praise health bosses and we hope that it does not become a ‘kiss of death’ for Ken Whelan in his new job,” concluded Mr Powell.

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