Canterbury District Health Board chief resigns

Canterbury District Health Board's (CDHB) first chief executive, Jean O'Callaghan, has resigned the board said today.

Ms O'Callaghan will take up a new position in England as chief executive of the Bedford National Health Service Trust. She will leave the CDHB in August.

She has been chief executive of the CDHB for four years, starting work just after the formation of the board.

Chairman of the CDHB, Syd Bradley, said taking the DHB through its first few years was never going to be easy and Ms O'Callaghan had made an enormous contribution, establishing the DHB as financially sound and organisationally strong.

"...she has achieved a financially break-even position within three years and has developed a positive and stable working environment while continuing to deliver quality health services.

"Positioning the CDHB as a major contributor to the region's economy as well as the leading health agency in Canterbury has been a significant challenge and together with her team, Jean has ensured that other organisations in health, welfare and social change have understood the role of the DHB," Mr Bradley said.

- NZPA