Get rid of Brown, say angry doctors

By MARTIN JOHNSTON

The senior doctors' union is urging the Government to sack Auckland District Health Board chairman Wayne Brown.

Ian Powell, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, said yesterday that the Government should dissociate itself from Mr Brown because of his "Rambo-style" attacks on doctors.

Mr Powell's attack - rejected by Mr Brown - follows a television current affairs show on Sunday in which Mr Brown criticised some practices at his board's hospitals.

Mr Brown's bluntness alienated some doctors as soon as he took up his Government-appointed job in December.

Mr Powell accused Mr Brown of holding "red-neck prejudices" against doctors, which he said were a throwback to the worst excesses of the dictatorial health management of the early 1990s, which was a failed "macho maniac control style of leadership".

"He has now created a crisis of confidence among doctors over the future of health services in Auckland," Mr Powell said.

"It is time the Government considered appointing a new chairperson of the board who respects doctors rather than treats them with contempt and who does not misrepresent the Government's attitudes."

In reply, Mr Brown said he had never had any contact with Mr Powell. "How, therefore, can he make comments about me?"

Mr Brown said he regularly acknowledged the contribution of the Auckland board's clinical staff.

He also drew attention to his own performance, saying he had brought big improvements to the Northland and Tairawhiti health boards.

"This experience was completely at odds with Mr Powell's outrageous and rude claims," Mr Brown said.

"Those hospitals ran efficiently for the benefit of their communities."

Feature: Our sick hospitals