Hon Tony Ryall MP
National Party Health Spokesman
2 April 2007

Hodgson must take action over lab fiasco

It’s time for the Health Minister to deliver accountability over the Auckland lab services fiasco, says National Party Health spokesman Tony Ryall.

“Despite a new contract being signed, the Health Minister will still not express his confidence in the greater Auckland DHBs. Hospital doctors are also calling for accountability.

"The High Court was very critical of how conflicts of interest and consultation were handled.

"This will be a test of how the Government views the behaviour outlined in the High Court judgement.

“Under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and the Crown Entities Act, the Minister has the power to remove the chairs and deputy chairs of any District Health Board.”
Section 8 of Schedule 3 of the NZ Public Health and Disability Act 2000 states:

"The Minister may remove an appointed member of a board from that office in accordance with section 36 of the Crown Entities Act 2004."
Section 36 of the Crown Entities Act states:
1 The responsible Minister may, at any time and entirely at his or her discretion, remove a member of a Crown agent from office.
2 The removal must be made by written notice to the member (with a copy to the entity).
3 The notice must state the date on which the removal takes effect, which must not be earlier than the date on which the notice is received.
4 The responsible Minister must notify the removal in the Gazette as soon as practicable after giving the notice.
5 This section does not apply to a member appointed by election under the entity's Act.

“Aucklanders deserve some accountability from those who put their medical testing services in jeopardy,” says Mr Ryall.

ENDS

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