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A former vice chairman of the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) says he was ordered to “get rid” of Canterbury’s chief of health, David Meates.
In a speech at a private function to dismiss Meates, given to Stuff, Tā Mark Solomon recalled the leadership of the then Director General of Health, Chai Chuah, after an induction meeting in late 2016 in Wellington.
Solomon, who ended his tenure as vice chairman of the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) late last year, had to leave the meeting early, but says Chuah escorted him out of the building.
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Stacy Squires / Stuff
Sir Mark Solomon has criticized Health Ministry officials for their treatment of outgoing Canterbury health chief David Meates. (File photo)
“And all the way down it was, ‘You have to get rid of management, you have to get rid of David Meates, he has left a trail of death and destruction.’
Meates resigned abruptly on Aug. 4, amid tension between senior executives and the CDHB board over the organization’s $ 180 million deficit and how to reduce it.
The last day of Meates is Friday.
Solomon said he told Chuah that the directive was “totally inappropriate behavior.”
“I would come for an induction to not listen to this nonsense,” Solomon said.
At the meeting, with Chuah and eight staff members from the Ministry of Health, Solomon said they made their views on the CDHB executive director and his management team clear.
“We had a dump hour of how terrible the Canterbury board and management was.”
“A comment was made from the CEO [that] the Canterbury administration is so bad that every time a ministry official comes to Christchurch he returns traumatized and refuses to return. “
A document published by the Treasury under the Official Information Act in mid-2017, revealed the views of Treasury executives and their “deliberate bias against Canterbury and their concealment of proven facts.”
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / Stuff
Hundreds of employees and members of the public turned out to see David Meates off with an honor guard Thursday.
“I think where we have come today is something Canterbury will regret for decades to come and I’ll put it bluntly, Health Department, Treasury, [you] I have a lot to answer for, ”he said.
Meates resigned abruptly on Aug. 4, amid tension between senior executives and the CDHB board over the organization’s $ 180 million deficit and how to reduce it.
The last day of Meates is Friday.
CDHB staff and members of the public said Stuff On Wednesday, Meates led Canterbury’s healthcare system through tough times, built a “can do” culture and demonstrated “true leadership” during his 12 years of service.
The Ministry of Health and Tā Mark Solomon have been contacted for comment.
