Bloomfield resigns

Peter Hughes announced:

Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes has today announced the Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, has chosen to step down at the end of July.

The Commissioner said Dr Bloomfield had done an outstanding job leading the Government’s health response to COVID-19 and the vaccination rollout.

Dr Bloomfield signalled with the Commissioner late last year he intended to step down before his term officially ended on 11 June 2023.

New Zealand is in a strong position because of its response to COVID-19 and its high vaccination rates. Dr Bloomfield has played a vital role in New Zealand’s success. At this stage in the Government’s COVID-19 response, and at the beginning of significant changes to the health and disability sector, Dr Bloomfield feels July is a good time to step away and have an extended break.

I can only imagine how draining the last two years have been, and Dr Bloomfield deserves a good break from what must have been an insanely high pressure job.

People who know Ashley personally tell me he is a very humble and personable guy. While the response to Covid-19 has had its flaws, our death rate has been a fraction of most other countries.

It will be interesting to see who is appointed to replace him, as the role will be very different under the Little health reforms.