Whoopee cushions given to senior health officials

Senior health officials were urged to play with whoopee cushions during a team-building day which identified problems in a major health care platform.

The day out at the Miramar Golf Club came after a meltdown among the 50 staff from the Ministry of Health's clinical services directorate. Senior managers refused to talk to each other while some staff were so stressed they needed counselling and time off.

The directorate had just completed one of the biggest revamps of health in 40 years. Primary Health Organisations were designed to help New Zealanders get better access to health care.

The ministry hired management strategists DY Consulting to study the unit's structure and function. Results were to be presented at the August 19 day out.

The consultants found serious problems - and doubts about the implementation of the $2.4 billion Primary Health Care Strategy.

The day out was to help staff work through the consultants' findings. The agency had done four blocks of work for the ministry, worth $133,900.

Dr Colin Feek, deputy director-general of the clinical services directorate, said the whoopee cushions, squeaky toys, kazoos and exploding party streamers were "light relief" to help "creative thinking".

While the day out cost $8500, the "light relief" props were bought from the $2 Shop by managers with their own money. Staff also drew pictures and played a "gymkhana" game at Wellington airport.

The focus was to work through DY Consulting's findings, which revealed the thoughts of officials charged with delivering the Primary Health Care Strategy.

The strategy is aimed at making New Zealanders healthier to avoid expensive and serious illness later in life. It is particuarly aimed at poorer and more vulnerable communities and is meant to be put into action through district health boards.

The report shows those in clinical services had unclear responsibilities, and some did not have the skills to do heir jobs. Financial management was a mess.

Ministry managers believed district health boards did not care about the PHCS, the report found.

DY Consulting's report also showed tension between DHBs and the ministry. DHBs showed discontent they had missed out on funding and "anger" they were not involved in its development.

Dr Feek said the directorate had done a "fantastic job" by introducing the PHO network. Staff had worked under tremendous pressure over a short space of time.

The outcome was better health for New Zealanders.

He said the consultant's work allowed the clinical services directorate to change its focus from setting up the PHOs to connecting communities with the organisations.

Of the stress and argument in the directorate, Dr Feek said: "People who are in health are always passionate. If I didn't have arguments, I wouldn't be getting the right advice."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY