Health chief frowns on managers' stand

By MARTIN JOHNSTON health reporter

The chairman of the Auckland District Health Board, Wayne Brown, has criticised its management's dispute with leading orthopaedic surgeon Bruce Twaddle.

"I think it took a bit of a narrowly legalistic focus and we've learned from that," Mr Brown told yesterday's monthly board meeting.

He also distanced the nine-member board from managers' handling of the high-profile wrangle with Mr Twaddle, the director of orthopaedic trauma at Auckland City Hospital.

"It needs to be made clear, members of the board were not involved in any way with Dr Twaddle over this issue," said Mr Brown.

Last month, surgical services general manager Meng Cheong gave Mr Twaddle a letter of warning over his media statements that care of orthopaedic patients would continue to be compromised in the new hospital because of a lack of resources.

Mr Twaddle was told he risked dismissal for any repetition.

But after a week of demands in the media, mainly from medical groups, to protect doctors' right to speak out on patient safety, board interim chief executive Garry Smith announced the withdrawal of the warning.

Yesterday, Mr Brown and Mr Twaddle both said there was no tension between them and they wanted to work together.

Mr Twaddle said the hospital had resolved to reduce delays for orthopaedic patients. "That's what has been good that's come out of all the conflict.

"By working with him [Mr Brown] it's my best chance of getting things resolved."

Mr Brown said specialists were not banned from talking to reporters. He cited chief medical officer Dr David Sage's monthly report, which says: "I encourage public discussion by clinicians of clinical topics, especially safety and quality issues ... "

But the report qualifies this permission: " ... it is entirely unacceptable to be critical of the employer ... "

Chief operating officer Marek Stepniak's report says that after inappropriate comments by senior staff, he would spend more time discussing with staff what was acceptable.