As we know, the slippery triumverate – Kathy Grant, Richard Thomson and Graham Crombie – have had a lot to answer for at both the SDHB and DCC/DCHL. An unsavoury grouping, best dissolved. Unfortunately, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is not that bright.
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### ODT Online Mon, 6 Feb 2017
SDHB restricts information access
By Eileen Goodwin
The Southern District Health Board is clamping down on information it has previously released without objection. Last week, the SDHB said it could no longer release commissioner Kathy Grant’s official correspondence unless the Otago Daily Times stated “specifically” which letters it is after. Previously, the board agreed to a general release of top-level inward and outward correspondence, subject to redactions to protect individual privacy. […] The ODT has also complained to the Office of the Ombudsman about the board’s response.
Read more
For more, enter the terms *sdhb*, *kathy grant* and *hospital* in the search box at right.
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
This post is offered in the public interest.
What if? Dunedin... 
Thu, 16 Feb 2017
ODT: Hospital leaks worse than stated
Water ran down walls in two of Dunedin Hospital’s operating theatres after Monday’s thunderstorm, Parliament’s health select committee heard yesterday. Southern District Health Board chiefs were in Wellington for an annual review, and Dunedin North MP David Clark asked them about Monday’s thunderstorm. On the day itself, the board played down the problem, saying water had entered in only a couple of places, near radiology, and a plant room. However, yesterday, board heads admitted to MPs the leaks were more widespread, including water having run down walls in two surgical theatres. In a response to the Otago Daily Times yesterday, chief executive Chris Fleming said it was fortunate the last of the day’s elective surgery was being completed when the storm struck at 3.30pm. Cont/
At Facebook:
*Image: clipartlord.com – hospital
Sat, 18 Feb 2017
ODT: Anxiety rose as theatre leaked
A Dunedin woman who was having an operation in one of Dunedin Hospital’s leaking operating theatres on Monday has spoken out about the experience. Georgia Henderson (19) was having an eye operation when staff started mopping up with towels after the storm hit at 3.30pm. “It made me really anxious. Your surgeon could get distracted and it could make it dangerous.” She said they were fretting about how severe it could become if the rain continued. Staff told her the situation was worse in the theatre next door, where buckets had been placed near the operating table while surgery was in progress, Miss Henderson said. Cont/
Received in reply to a comment at another thread. -Eds.
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Hype O’Thermia
2017/02/21 at 1:54 pm
ODT has balls! Amid the tribulations there is something to celebrate.
Note also today :
Health boss, editor to talk
The Southern DHB new chief executive has told MPs he plans to meet the editor of the ODT to discuss the “style and the approach” of the newspaper’s health reporting.
Read more
Somehow I doubt if this meeting is so he can tell the editor how pleased he is with the ODT’s tactful acceptance of whatever shreds of info are presented to them by their official communicators.
Here’s hoping the editor presents an upright middle finger and advises Chris Fleming that the way to get favourable press coverage is to –
[wait for it]
*EARN IT*
by effectiveness, excellence, prudent prioritising, and honesty in word and deed,
and if there’s any spinning to do that’s what the middle finger is about: it’s not the ODT’s job to be PR flacks for anyone.
ODT 24.2.17 (page 10)
Reference: 21.2.17 Health boss, editor to talk
….In Dunedin, ODT editor Barry Stewart confirmed the newspaper would keep asking questions and holding the board to account. “The SDHB is a taxpayer-funded body that affects the lives of everyone in Otago. We are their independent voice. That is our role in a democratic society that values freedom of the press. We will continue to hold those in power to account.” The democratic process was “compromised” in 2015 when the SDHB’s board members were sacked, Mr Stewart said. “Instead of democratic debate among board members representing the community we have government appointees making all the decisions.”
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/health-boss-editor-talk
Applause for Barry Stewart & ODT. So true: “The democratic process was “compromised” in 2015 when the SDHB’s board members were sacked, Mr Stewart said.”
The last thing we need is media weakly agreeing to only print nice stories provided by overpaid SDHB dys-communicators.
At Facebook:
Thu, 9 Mar 2017
ODT: Southern DHB figures show treatment lag
By Eileen Goodwin
Figures put out to trumpet the Southern District Health Board’s success reveal the extent to which it has slipped behind the rest of the country, Labour health spokesman David Clark says. […] Except for cataract surgery, the SDHB’s increases were markedly lower than the national increases, despite the area’s older age profile.
● Orthopaedic surgery volumes at the SDHB rose 19% over eight years, but nationally, that figure was 26%.
● First specialist assessments (FSA) rose 16%, compared with 37% nationally.
● The SDHB outstripped the national increase in cataract surgery with a whopping 65% increase, compared with 29% nationally.
SDHB commissioner Kathy Grant did not respond to a request for comment.
Dr Clark, Dunedin North MP and Labour health spokesman, said the SDHB had ”slipped behind” other boards. ”The funding formula clearly doesn’t work for the South.” Reported difficulties in accessing FSAs was of particular concern. Cont/
“SDHB commissioner Kathy Grant did not respond to a request for comment.” That’s the thing about govt appointed commissioners, they KNOW they’re only answerable to their masters, everyone else can get a clear view of their middle finger held aloft.
At Facebook:
I’m amazed the vocational staff dedicated to patient care and treatment at Dunedin Hospital are still holding on, but for how much longer with dickhead change managers and commissioners playing their usual games. Jesus weeps.
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Wed, 5 Apr 2017
ODT: Unhappy nurses to meet managers
By Eileen Goodwin
Nurses at Dunedin Hospital are unhappy with staffing numbers and will raise the problem with management. The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has set up a meeting between some of its emergency department members and management to be held later this week. Last night, nursing union delegates met in Dunedin to discuss other possible actions. Cont/
Sat, 8 Apr 2017
ODT: Nurses find support
By Eileen Goodwin
Dunedin Hospital clinical leader Dr John Chambers has spoken out in support of nurses’ concerns about workload pressures. Speaking as a senior doctors’ union representative, Dr Chambers said the emergency department had been extremely busy, and some patients were experiencing long delays. Cont/
S E R I O U S
Sat, 22 Apr 2017
ODT: SDHB record-keeping a concern
By Elspeth McLean
Serious concerns about aspects of the Southern District Health Board’s record-keeping practices have been raised by the country’s chief archivist, Marilyn Little. This follows her investigation of concerns about the board’s ability to keep track of documents in its historic multimillion-dollar dispute with South Link Health. Last September, Ms Little took the unusual move of using her powers under the Public Records Act to ask both the DHB and the Ministry of Health to report on aspects of their record keeping in conjunction with the board’s long-running dispute with South Link Health. […] Ms Little said she had serious concerns about the DHB’s continued absence of a policy covering corporate records, the effectiveness of oversight of records held by third parties and the board’s “apparent failure to identify and remedy these issues without prompting from me”. She will be monitoring the board’s progress in addressing her concerns. Cont/
Go Marilyn Little, get your cattle prod onto the job.
They don’t like it up ’em.