'Conflict' probe clears former health chief

By MARTIN JOHNSTON

Former Auckland health chief Graeme Edmond has been cleared of the conflict-of-interest accusation that underpinned his resignation last July.

Auckland District Health Board chairman Wayne Brown revealed to MPs this week that an investigation did not support the assertion.

Mr Edmond, who was the board's chief executive, and chief financial officer Ian Ward quit within weeks of being accused of conflicts over their roles at Health Support, a medical supplies company.

On behalf of the health board, Mr Edmond was a director of the now privately owned Health Support, which was set up by the region's public hospitals in 1992, and Mr Ward sometimes stood in for him.

The company paid neither man for the job. Their directors' fees were sent to the board.

Meeting in private, the health board's audit committee in June excluded the pair from talks about the board's main, $17 million contract with Health Support, alleging they had a conflict of interest.

Mr Ward rejects the allegation. Mr Edmond has kept silent, in line with a confidentiality clause in his resignation deal which limits both sides to saying that he left because of a "difference of views" with the board.

At a parliamentary health select committee meeting, National MP Lynda Scott and Green MP Sue Kedgley asked if an investigation for the board had found any conflict of interest.

"Not exactly, no," said Mr Brown.

But he felt uncomfortable giving more detail as he feared breaching confidentiality clauses and employment law.