Media Release

Date: 6 August 2007

New Board Governance Appointment at Waikato DHB

Board secretary Neville Hablous has been appointed to a newly-created position of Director of Board Governance at Waikato District Health Board.

The appointment was announced today by acting chief executive Jerry Rickman. It comes as a result of the board's recent adoption of a significant review of Waikato DHB's governance arrangements.

Mr Rickman said the change reflected the board's wish to get closer to the DHB's activities, especially those of Health Waikato, the board's hospital and health services provider arm.

It would allow the board to understand the challenges, successes and performances within the DHB, said Mr Rickman.

Mr Hablous will be responsible for ensuring matters of risk, quality and safety are conveyed to the board and properly addressed by the organisation.

"The position will be a two-way link with the board very keen to ensure that effective channels exist for staff to convey their concerns through to the board," said Mr Rickman.

Mr Hablous will work closely with the Chief Medical Advisor and Director of Nursing to improve the quality of care at Waikato DHB. Following the governance review, the role of the Quality and Risk Unit will be refined and the three positions - Director of Board Governance, Chief Medical Advisor and Director of Nursing - will work together to ensure the unit's activities bring maximum value to clinical staff.

"The integration of clinical concerns and priorities with board assessment and oversight through the Director of Board Governance is a new model but one which meets the current needs of the organisation," said Mr Rickman.

"There's no doubt in my mind that Neville has the experience and the skills to carry out this function in a most efficient and effective way."

The governance review was "one of the most significant produced on the organisation and its present corporate and clinical governance arrangements", said Mr Rickman.

ENDS