Board Member Remains Suspended

Waikato DHB board member Dr Suresh Vatsyayann remains a suspended board
member despite giving what he says was an apology to the board today.

Chairman Graeme Milne said the seven-minute statement from Dr
Vatsyayann was "not the required apology."

"We act with integrity and we spend our dollars on making people
healthy. We need board members of the highest integrity and capability.
Dr Vatsyayann does not meet those standards.

"As a member of the medical profession Dr Vatsayayann had the
opportunity to make a contribution as an elected member of the board. He
has not brought productive debate to the table."

Mr Milne said the board had the right to govern its own affairs and
would not stand by and allow any unjustified accusations to be made
without consequences.

"The board has complete confidence in the chief executive, management
and staff of Waikato DHB," said Mr Milne.

Dr Vatsyayann was suspended from the board on 17 December last year and
asked to withdraw comments and apologise to the board and staff.

He did not respond or apologise but attended today's board meeting
where he asked board members to give him the opportunity to make a
statement.

Mr Milne said the statement was "simply more of the rhetoric we have
come to expect from Dr Vatsyayann."

"The DHB is a billion dollar organisation with more than 5800 staff and
it is responsible for the health and wellbeing of more than 360,000
people.

"Those people, the DHB staff, management and board members deserve to
have board members with the highest professional and ethical standards.

"Dr Vatsyayann's behaviour continues to be below those standards," said
Mr Milne.

The board unanimously supported Mr Milne's recommendation that Dr
Vatsyayann remained suspended until he withdrew the comments and
apologised.

ENDS