Waikato DHB sacked

Stuff reports:

Waikato District Health Board members have been sacked after ongoing performance issues and “continual adverse publicity”.
Just over two weeks ago, Health Minister David Clark warned board members he was thinking of replacing them with a commissioner.
When the board responded, all but two members offered to resign.
On Tuesday, Clark announced his decision to get rid of the board members and replace them with a commissioner, Dr Karen Poutasi.

Almost inevitable.

Poutasi can appoint up to three deputy commissioners, and they will have until 2022 to deal with the DHB’s issues – Clark plans to cancel this year’s local health board elections.
Having a commissioner oversee health services in the Waikato until 2020 felt like about the right length of time, Clark told reporters at Parliament.
“We need to address the serious challenges and provide the stability so the DHB can get on track,” he said.

The fact he is not allowing elections in October suggests the problems are more than the current board members.

Personally I think it shows the model of elected boards of DHBs is flawed. The Government should appoint all DHBs, so then we can hold the Government fully accountable for them.