Auckland health chief resigns after differences with board

2.00pm

Auckland District Health Board chief executive Graeme Edmond has resigned after a clash of views with board members, the board said in a statement today.

The health board's chairman, Wayne Brown, said the decision for Mr Edmond to resign after seven years as chief executive was mutually agreed after "a difference of views between the board and the CEO".

"Graeme has made a major contribution as chief executive and he leaves with our best wishes."

The health board's chief funding and planning officer Garry Smith and its chief operations officer Marek Stepniak would jointly take over Mr Edmond's role, Mr Brown said.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists spokesman Ian Powell said Mr Edmond's resignation showed Auckland DHB was undergoing an internal crisis.

He did not know what caused the most recent clash between the board and Mr Edmond, but it was clear there had been "one hell of a scrap".

Tension between the board and management over the health board's $55 million deficit had been running high for some time, he said.

Tension between management and staff was also high especially over a perceived lack of consultation on the proposed move of some of Auckland's hospitals to a new Grafton site.

Board chairman Wayne Brown's sometimes abrasive personality may have also been a factor in the clash, said Mr Powell.

"Auckland DHB has been internally imploding for some time... Whoever is taking over will have a tough job."

Senior doctors had differences of opinion with Mr Edmond, but he was always courteous, personable and professional, Mr Powell said.

Mr Edmond is the third health board chief executive to resign in the past year after tensions between them and board members.

Northland DHB's Ken Whelan and Hawke's Bay's Mark Flowers, who quit last year, said they were frustrated by having to deal with parochial elected DHB members as they struggled with inadequate budgets.

- NZPA