Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Debate on Crown Entities, Public Organisations, and State Enterprises — I can now say that that long line of people has dried up, because the performance of the Waitematā District Health Board, which was in such dire straits, has been radically turned round under the leadership of Tony Ryall as health Minister, and, very important, of Dr Lester Levy as the chair of that board. Members will remember that that district health board was very dysfunctional. It was really run by people who were more interested in political considerations than in the health of the people of the North Shore and the Waitematā district. But we can say now that things really have turned round.
← Debate on Crown Entities, Public Organisations, and State Enterprises — Waitematā District Health Board. I can remember the years from 2005 to 2008, when I would meet regularly with my colleague the Hon Dr Wayne Mapp, and we would compare notes on the long queues of constituents who had beaten a track to our respective electorate office doors with tales of woe about what was going on at North Shore Hospital.
Debate on Crown Entities, Public Organisations, and State Enterprises — If we want a symbol of that, we can look at what is happening at Waitakere Hospital. That hospital was a complete mess; what have we got? From last week that accident and emergency facility is now open 24 hours a day to adult patients. Since last June it has been open 24 hours a day to children. That is a real service for the people of west Auckland. →