[govt.nz]
“By not declaring all interests, particularly the pecuniary interests, exposes the DHB to an increase in conflict of interest risk and potential for reputational damage.” –Report, Audit New Zealand
The auditors were also disappointed at a lack of progress in other areas. There were no up-to-date disaster recovery plans, a shortcoming identified previously. (ODT)
### ODT Online Mon, 9 Jan 2017
SDHB rapped over non-disclosures
By Eileen Goodwin
Audit New Zealand has told the Southern District Health Board to sharpen up its act on financial disclosures after finding some interests had not been declared. Commissioner Kathy Grant made new declarations after the issue was raised by auditors, she confirmed to the Otago Daily Times. Mrs Grant had not realised they had to be declared.
….In its 2015-16 audit, Audit New Zealand recommended the DHB implement regular checks of the New Zealand companies office register to check for non-disclosures.
….The auditors said the DHB’s “key challenge” was maintaining sustainable services while trying to improve its financial position.
Read more
● Kathy Grant is a consultant at Dunedin law firm Gallaway Cook Allan.
****
Southern District Health Board
End of year update on the Dunedin Hospital redevelopment project
Wednesday, 14 December 2016
The Southern Partnership Group (SPG) is pleased with progress towards having an Indicative Business Case, with a shortlist of options for the redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital, completed by mid-next year. “Despite the ambitious timeframe, we’ve met our deadline to workshop the longlist of options by Christmas and are on track to have that narrowed down to a shortlist by mid next year,” SPG Chair Andrew Blair says. “The longlist options range on a spectrum from replacing the Clinical Services Building and refurbishing or replacing the Ward Block, to moving all hospital facilities to an entirely new hospital campus either nearby or somewhere else in Dunedin City….”
Read more
█ Audit NZ 2015-16 Management Report
—
Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
This post is offered in the public interest.
What if? Dunedin... 
The Audit Office recommends. If you have a concern about a pecuniary interest, you should seek advice from a lawyer.
At $1400 a day you would expect Kathy to know the rules.
Received.
Wed, 11 Jan 2017 at 9:52 a.m.
Subject: Another one for the “safety is the top of our minds” stable…
Message:
Kathy Grant told the ODT that disaster recovery had been “to the forefront of our attention as we gather more information as to the state of the clinical services building”.
Is anyone saying this before the bad thing happens?
Or in fact saying what turns on safety being a top priority for them?
Operating theatres – working around buckets to catch rain water.
New technology requires more electrical connections, as we all know from our homes. No longer one light bulb in the middle of the ceiling and one power point!
Now, it’s like a student bedroom in a run-down flat where extension leads and multiboxes form a bizarre sculpture or “installation” a.k.a. tripping hazard.
Electricity and water, we don’t need Richard Healey to explain why that’s a risky mix do we, Kathy?
We don’t want people with scalpels in their hands skidding on wet floors or tripping over buckets and wires, do we Kathy?
Is SDHB’s money being spent the best way?
Well I suppose anyone in receipt of large chunks of it, to decide on priorities for the rest of it, would have opinions on that, that might not be the same as SDHB clinical staff and other taxpayers.
The danger of a sudden total loss of power in the theatres is the crux.
Yes, old wiring, overloaded, probably not compliant even for residential use by today’s standards. Add water coming into the building where it’s not meant to.
“Nurse, fetch the tilly lamp! We’ll just have to soldier on with inspired guesswork and some ether on a cottonwool ball.”
my heart is bypassed do you think that will do
Special induction course for new clinical staff coming to work at Dunedin Hospital – watch complete set of MASH
The most chilling thing about the SDHB is the ratty ‘team’ of commissioner and accomplice deputies.
Thu, 19 Jan 2017
ODT: SDHB reports don’t have to be released
The Southern District Health Board says releasing reports to the public about possible service changes would have a “chilling effect” on its ability to conduct its affairs. That argument appears to have persuaded the Office of the Ombudsman, which issued a provisional opinion this week in response to an Otago Daily Times complaint. […] The documents are an analysis of Dunedin Hospital operating theatres; an orthopaedics analysis; and a plastics service analysis. The ODT first requested them last July. The reports were written by a consulting firm. Cont/
It’s having a chilling effect on me right now!
Sat, 21 Jan 2017
ODT: SDHB ‘active review’ worst performer
More than 40% of “active review” patients in the South have not had a check-up in the past six months, the highest proportion in the country by far. It is one of six measures watched by the Ministry of Health, and there can be financial penalties for health boards not meeting them. Southern District Health Board interim chief executive Chris Fleming said the board had 83 patients in active review. Cont/
Attention Consultants
Re patients neither sportsmen nor on the brink of death, to whom treatment must be denied
From today January 22 2017 revised terminology is to be used. In place of the outdated term “active review” for clarity and standardisation substitute “comatose review”.
About bloody time they had an active review of the Compass food also. If I could get my active review, I could then get published an active review of the slops fed to active review clients!
No Gurglars, the procedure formerly known as “active review” is where someone with a treatable condition that causes ongoing pain and/or disability is deemed to be not eligible for treatment “now” and must wait until their condition deteriorates further to reach the “points system”. They are referred back to their general practitioner who is to provide ongoing care i.e. painkillers and other prescriptions. They do not get to sample Compass food unless they are receiving Meals on Wheels.
Fortunately, having been sent back home to suffer, they can now order delivered meals from several suppliers, most of whom provide delicious dinners. The snag is that only Compass food is subsidised.
So Hype it’s correct name is “inactive review”
I see where you’re coming from and we always welcome input from lay persons, up to and occasionally including patients.
The specialist vocabulary is often confusing to lay persons including the media, a not entirely undesirable adjunct to the other managerial toolbox of obscuration.
“Inactive” is a term in popular use generally condemnatory in nature suggesting slackness, failure, and obesity. In revising correct vocabulary we are passionate about avoiding negative associations with our euphemistic processes.
Nomenclature was invented by health professionals to describe natural problems that were going to lead ultimately to your death. Given the certainty of this, it was felt that treatment would cost more if the names were not pronounceable.
Tue, 31 Jan 2017
ODT: Fleming appointed SDHB chief executive
DHB staff were told this morning that Chris Fleming had been appointed. Last year, he was seconded from Nelson Marlborough DHB as an interim six-month chief executive. In an email this morning, commissioner Kathy Grant told staff that Mr Fleming was the strongest candidate. Cont/
Well, Kathy Grant, she’d have to say that wouldn’t she. I wish Mr Fleming well in his task but wait till he rings the bell and does an escape, stage left. By then it’ll be a bit late and the commissioner will have flagged it as well. That only leaves Richard Thomson. He of course is the self styled master of intrigue and magic, you only have to look at his handling of the Mike Swann Affair with aplomb, to the point where he was told by the Minister of Health to “piss off”. Next he moves to the back seat and as a filler pops up on the DCC. There he does a lot of fizzing but no difference is there? He’s now gone from there as there’s a better racket as an assistant to the SDHB commissioner at $900 per day. A professional “grifter”.
If Kathy Grant, as a qualified lawyer did not know that under the law she had to declare an interest. How can it be that she will make the fluoride decision for the region if the bill becomes law (ODT 23/03/17). A lawyer who is not up with the law, who could be making decisions on the region’s behalf, on medical issues.
With her expertise now branching into medication for the region, maybe she should join the Aurora or Delta boards. They have created quite a headache for themselves recently.
She is a consultant for GCA and her husband is GCA who advises Delta et al. Already in the camp. COI alert.
Forgot…. (not!) She’s a director of DCHL https://www.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/559098/directors
Enough for ya, Chris ?!
This has all been discussed elsewhere at What if?