I’ve been a Canterbury GP since 2001 and currently work as a medical advisor for ACC whilst raising my young son. I hold an MBA degree and have just completed a term on the board of the Royal NZ College of GPs. I have a strong commitment to ensuring quality governance exists across the health sector.
As the only medical doctor standing for the CDHB, I’m running as an independent candidate because I believe it’s important for medical practitioners to be engaged at the highest levels of health governance and I’m passionate about providing high quality, sustainable health services with equitable outcomes.
The main challenge facing the CDHB is how to best meet the increasing demands on mental health services, elective surgery and acute care within the current funding constraints. There are also challenges ahead in supporting primary care to best manage the increasing demands of “closer to home” services.
District Health Boards are not District “Hospital” Boards and the CDHB has responsibilities to the wider health community in Canterbury. I would like to bring a fresh voice to the board with a perspective gained from a patient-centred professional career and a personal commitment to achieving better health for everyone in our community.
