12 December 2011

Senior Doctors Congratulate Health Minister’s Re-Appointment

“Senior doctors congratulate Tony Ryall on his re-appointment as Minister of Health,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.

“Prior to first becoming Health Minister in late 2008, Mr Ryall used his three years as opposition health spokesperson very effectively to ensure that he had a good understanding of the pulse of the health sector before he became minister. This included the importance of addressing our senior hospital doctor workforce crisis and the need for comprehensive clinical leadership in district health boards.”

“Under his first watch some good things have happened such as a sharpening of the practical operational focus of government agencies (including the Ministry of Health) and the promotion of collaboration between public hospitals and services provided in the community (including by general practitioners.”

“Hopefully his reappointment can lead to a sharper focus on issues where the eye has gone off the ball recently, particularly senior hospital doctor shortages and genuine substantive clinical leadership in DHBs.”

“We are willing to work as closely with Mr Ryall on advancing these and other issues as he would like. Successful health ministers will appreciate that occasional critics are likely to be their best friends,” concluded Mr Powell.

ENDS

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