One of These is Not the Same

Oh wow. A health boss that wants to get rid of bewildering bureaucracy. Lester Levy, who has taken over the running of the sickest DHB in the country, Waitemata Health, clearly understands the massive problem that has built up in the health bureaucracy.

““It has surprised me, after being away from it for quite a period, how bewilderingly bureaucratic [the DHB] is,” says Dr Levy, a former chief executive of Counties Manukau DHB’s predecessor, South Auckland Health.

““The bureaucracy has created a sense of complacency, or even indifference … [an attitude that] the status quo is the right way.””

Yes, thanks to your predecessors,  the utterly useless Dwayne Crombie and the somewhat inert Kay McKelvie, the Waitemata DHB had the dubious distinction of the longest ED waiting times in the country and the even more dubious distinction of being the only DHB to close down a 24 hour emergency department at Waitakere hospital, effectively cutting off over 300,000 people from easy access to emergency services. I note with thankfulness that this service will restart in the New Year.

Levy appears to be a refreshing change to the stifling bureaucrats that seem to occupy most DHB boards. He even seems to get that it is doctors and nurses who hold the key to good health services, not politicians and lay-managers.

“Dr Levy wants a slimmed-down management group and greater involvement by clinicians in leadership and governance.”

As long as that is not just trendy lip service and leads to results, Lester Levy has the tentative MacDoctor seal of approval.

But I’ll be watching…

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