KEY POINTS:
New Hawke's Bay health boss Sir John Anderson hopes to turn around the district health board's finances within two years.
The DHB faced "significant budgetary challenges", said Sir John, who was appointed commissioner after Health Minister David Cunliffe sacked the board last month.
"We need to understand what is driving the finances and not leap to quick-fix solutions that can end up compounding the situation."
The aim for management and clinicians was to work together to achieve a "best practice DHB", Sir John said in a statement.
"The key elements of such a DHB are a focus on the health of the community, on high quality and safe services ensuring patient safety, an empowered staff and a community that has confidence and pride in its health services.
"With these points in mind I believe we can rectify the financial position in two years and that should be our collective focus," he said.
When Mr Cunliffe sacked the board, he cited internal board divisions, an "irrevocable breakdown" in relations with hospital management and a $7.7 million budget blowout as reasons for calling in Sir John as commissioner.
The decision provoked outrage in Hawke's Bay and Sir John yesterday acknowledged the strong feelings that existed.
But he said there was an "urgent need" for community leaders to get behind the DHB.
"Staff need to be able to focus on what they do best, and that's providing quality health care and services to Hawke's Bay people, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"In the short time I have been here I have found a very capable and competent organisation. So despite some of the difficulties that have been well aired, this organisation is very sound."
Sir John said he had confidence in board chief executive Chris Clarke and his management team who understood what was required.
"They recognise that their own performance is critical to success."
- NZPA
