Feilding based, I have more than 35 years health and disability sector experience. This includes school dental nursing and many years of health consumer and community advocacy.

I have been a MidCentral DHB Board member since 2001, serving on Hospital Advisory and Audit Committees. I chair the Enable NZ Governance Group.

While this past year has been difficult as MidCentral’s cost structure was turned around, there have been notable achievements with improved waiting times in the Emergency Department and for radiotherapy, and an increase in elective surgery. Progress has been made on initiatives to deliver better, sooner, more convenient healthcare closer to home where clinically appropriate.

This progress must be maintained through innovative models of care that have the support of the healthcare workforce and communities if health outcomes are to continue to improve.

 I look forward to being an effective community voice on the Board for another 3 years.

 

 

 

Top 5 Issues

1. Continued emphasis on public health, primary health and long term conditions services that are accessible and responsive to the most disadvantaged people in MidCentral's region
2. Establishment of integrated family health centres across the region as part of the wider implementation of the Better, Sooner, More Convenient Business Case
3. Increasing productivity within hospital services while maintaining clinical quality and controlling costs
4. A sensible, evidence-based and planned approach to regional and national service development to strengthen vulnerable services - that makes best use of local services and ensures fairer and more streamlined access to those services that must be regionally or nationally based
5. Work to ensure ongoing community involvement in planning and decision making.

Personal Profile

EXPERIENCE

 39 years in the health sector

• School Dental Nurse (12 years)
• Local, regional and national health committee involvement (17 years)
• DHB Board member since 2001 - Chair, Disability Support Advisory Committee

                                                       - Chair Enable NZ Governance Group (current)

                                                       - Member, Hospital Advisory and Audit Committees (current)

 KNOWLEDGE

• Broad understanding and overview of the health and disability sectors
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of DHB environment and government priorities
• Strong consumer and community perspectives
• National networks

 CURRENT INVOLVEMENT

 Consumer Representative on

• Medicines Review Committee
• Health Information Standards Organisation 2010
• Health and Disability Commissioner’s Consumer Advisory Group
• Central Region DHBs’ Consumer Representative Forum
• Co-convenor, Federation of Women’s Health Councils