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Between 2015 and 2019 Dr Sarfati was co-head and then head of the University of Otagos Department of Public Health. She is a respected and skilled senior leader with a public sector, clinical and academic background. The Director-General of Health is a pivotal role leading a sector critical to the overall wellbeing of New Zealanders. Director-General of Health appointed - Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Uncertainty about upcoming health sector reforms may also have been a factor, with the ministry being moved into a strategy and monitoring role while Health NZ will run the health system. If, as the Covid-19 emergency legislation suggests, the Government was keen to emphasise the traditional relationship between Cabinet and public servants, it would have been more logical, not to mention more in line with the Health Act, to give more prominence to the Director of Public Health, as the statutorily responsible public official. Dr Sarfati has a PhD from the University of Otago, is a NZ College of Public Health Medicine Fellow and until 2008 was a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine. Acting Director-General of Health appointed - Te Kawa Mataaho Public But he was happy for him because he "thoroughly" deserved a break. He said he had been thinking about the right time to leave, but he still had "very mixed feelings because I work with amazing people". He will bring a strong focus on partnership with Te Aka Whai Ora Mori Health Authority, Manat Hauora Ministry of Health, and our other health sector stakeholders. That would have meant many of the problems now so obvious could have been identified at the outset, and either mitigated or avoided completely, by people who knew something about them, rather than relying on health officials, with no relevant experience, no matter how personally dedicated they might be, to try to sort out. [2] The longer it goes on, the more difficult it will be to return to a more normal situation. Dr Sarfati will start on 30 July 2022, when the incumbent Dr Ashley Bloomfield leaves the role. She is a partnerships specialist and has a background in law and Pacific development. That does not rule out swift, novel, or agile solutions being devised, but rather ensures that they are firmly, not capriciously, based. She is also a director on the boards of Beyond Blue, Australia's most recognised mental health charity. This follows the director general of health's surprise resignation that was announced earlier today, with his last day at the end of July. Perhaps in part due to the relative effectiveness of the COVID-19 measures taken by the New Zealand Government, Bloomfield has developed a cult following. A new director of public health has been announced by the Ministry of Health. This campaign aims to reduce low-value health care and improve patient experiences. The Prime Ministers recent admission that the Director-General attends Cabinet meetings when Covid-19 is being discussed reinforces the worrying reality that the Director-General is now no longer an impartial public servant, but an unelected quasi-minister participating in the Cabinets decision-making in a way that no public servant previously has ever been allowed to do, no matter the crisis at hand, or which party has been in government. John then undertook a number of significant roles in tertiary education, including as: Chief Advisor Wnanga, Tertiary Education Commission; Deputy Chief Executive, Te Wnanga o Aotearoa; and Chief Operating Officer, Taratahi Institute of Agriculture. Dr Diana Sarfati, Director-General of Health and Chief Executive, Ministry of Health. McElnay plans to spend the next six months travelling, according to a ministry email obtained by the Herald and written by deputy director general of population health Deborah Woodley. The ministry said in a statement that a process was underway to recruit a new Director of Public Health, but Dr Jim Miller, from Toi te Ora Public Health, Bay of Plenty DHB, would be the acting director from April 11. Margie started her career in the State Services Commission. He is passionate about the health reforms and the unique opportunity offered for all involved to reshape the system to better meet New Zealanders needs. From 2015 to 2019, Diana wasthe co-head and then head of the Department of Public Health and the Director of the Cancer and Chronic Conditions (C3) research group at University of Otago, Wellington. Caroline Ann McElnay QSO ( / mk.lne /) is a medical officer in New Zealand. She has worked at University of Otago Department of Public Health since 2004 and was Associate Professor and Professor there from 2013. She comes from a clinical background, beginning her experience with nursing and has worked in frontline mental health services and leadership roles in District Health Boards. Find out what support is available near you. Dr Nick Chamberlain was Northland DHB Chief Executive for nearly 12 years. Renewed council efforts to control Otagos most notorious pest are not equal to the task of keeping rabbit numbers down a review has found. She is a Fellow of the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine and is registered with the New Zealand Medical Council. [27], In August 2021, Bloomfield apologised to the New Zealand Parliament's health select committee for providing them with incorrect information about a United Nations worker from Fiji who later tested positive for COVID-19. He is currently clinical director and medical officer of Health at Te Whatu Ora Te Matau a Mui, Hawke's Bay. His entire life had been dedicated to the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders . In November 2020, Dr Jones was awarded a New Zealand Public Service Medal Award for his exceptional contribution to health in Hawkes Bay. Bloomfield will be in his role for the first stages of the new health system, with the establishment of Health NZ and the Mori Health Authority from July 1, replacing the country's 20 district . Dr Diana Sarfati was appointed to the role of Director-General of Health and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health in November 2022 having acted in the role since July 2022. The role of Director of Public Health was previously held by Dr Caroline McElnay, who resigned in April 2022 after holding the role for five years, including two years of the COVID-19 outbreak. The new Director of Public Health will provide leadership across the system, helping us stay closely connected with the new entities Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora, Dr Old says. Maree held several senior roles in the Ministry for Social Development in Policy and Service Delivery and in the Ministry for Children. In legal and statutory terms, the phrase have regard to generally means that the minister, must specifically and separately listen to the advice being proffered. Fepuleai is an honorific (or chief title) from her family village of Saleaula, Savaii, Samoa. I am very pleased to appoint Dr Sarfati to this acting role, said Deputy Public Service Commissioner Helene Quilter. He has held DHB lead Chief Executive roles in Primary Care and Public Health. Her work has been focused on health systems, addressing inequity in health and cancer. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees from the University of Otago. . Dr Ashley Bloomfield's temporary director general of health - NZ Herald Whilst CEO of the Brisbane North Primary Health Network (PHN), Abbe successfully led the organisation through two significant government reforms to transition from a Division of General Practice to a Medicare Local and then to a PHN that commissions primary care services for a population of over one million people. Her work has been focused on health systems, addressing inequity in health and cancer. Health New Zealand has announced the significant appointment of Dr Nick Chamberlain as the National Director of the new National Public Health Service. ), Interim Pacific Lead Northern Region - Harriet Pauga, Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Waikato Chris Lowry (until new appt. With whnau whakapapa to Tikitiki in Tairawhiti, Peter is committed to achieving health equity for Mori and other priority populations. It is an inevitable consequence of the Governments too narrow focus from the outset of treating Covid-19 solely as a public health issue. He then moved to the Downer Group, where as a GM, Jeremy ran Downers water sector business. You can capture your thoughts, and the time to Read, Watch, Listen or Delve, against your account but first you'll need to be logged in. If you can help us, please click the button to ensure we can continue to provide quality independent journalism you can trust. Interim Director, Prevention - Astrid Koornneef. I specialised as a Public Health Medicine Physician after completing my Masters of Public Health through the University of Otago. Caroline McElnay - Wikipedia ), Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty Bronwyn Anstis (1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Lakes Alan Wilson (1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Taranaki Gillian Campbell(1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Tairwhiti Jim Green(1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Tamati Peni, Interim Pacific Lead Te Manawa Taki, Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Te Matau a Mui Hawkes Bay Chris Ash (1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Interim District Director - Hospital and Specialist Services, Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral Jeff Brown (until 30 Jun 2023), Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Whanganui Katherine Fraser Chapple (1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Wairarapa Kieran McCann (1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley Jamie Duncan, Interim Pacific Lead Central Region - Tagaloa Junior Ulu, Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Nelson Marlborough Lexie OShea(1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Interim District Director - Hospital and Specialist Services, South Canterbury Jason Power(until 30 Jun 2023), Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Waitaha Canterbury/Te Tai o Poutini West Coast Lisa Blackler, Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Southern Hamish Brown(1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Interim Pacific Lead Te Waipounamu - Lealiifanovalevale Erolia Eteuati-Rooney. The Ministry of Health is the Government's chief advisor on health matters. [5], She was appointed director of population health for Hawke's Bay District Health Board. Fionnagh has also been Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland and a Past President of Children's Healthcare Australasia. Dr Sarfati is currently the Acting Director-General of Health and Chief Executive, Ministry for Health, a role she has held since July 2022. That is all very well but the far stronger counter argument is that it is in precisely such circumstances that the normal rules should be adhered to ensure that the best decisions are reached. Lorraine (Tapuika, Ngti Pikiao, Ngiterangi, Ngti Ranginui, Ngti Kahu) has a strong clinical and academic background in nursing leadership. Dr Sarfati will act in the role until a permanent appointee takes up the Director-General position. He also has extensive experience working for Bay of Plenty DHB including time as the Clinical Director of Innovation and Improvement and as Acting Chief Medical Officer. The latest chapter in the removal of a 23-million-year-old whale relic sparks further fury. [1] She was the director of public health for the New Zealand Ministry of Health from 2016 to 2022, and chaired the Pandemic Influenza Technical Advisory Group, which advises the Ministry on matters concerning the control of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. The giant hole being left by Ashley Bloomfield at the top of the Ministry of Health is getting larger, with two top public health leaders also leaving this week. However, it was never intended to deal with more long-term situations like the pandemic, and questions quickly arose as to the legality of relying on the Health Act provisions to give the authority to the Director-General that the Government wanted. *See Pacific Health regional structure under Regional Leadership below. Diana is a public health physician, cancer epidemiologist and health services researcher, and she has a PhD from the University of Otago. [17] In the first half of 2018, Bloomfield was seconded to the Capital & Coast District Health Board where he was interim chief executive. All this was avoidable. by section 111(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91). Dr Colin Tukuitonga has served as Pacific Community Director-General since January 2014. Since 11 June 2018, he has been the chief executive of the country's Ministry of Health and the country's Director-General of Health. P.S- Working as a public health professionals in New Zealand and currently not in clinical practice. The double-act of the Prime Minister and the Director-General at media conferences has led to an inevitable politicisation of the Director-Generals role. Her role at Manat Hauora has involved looking after the machinery of government and integrity processes associated with supporting Ministers, the Director-General and the Executive Team. [8], Bloomfield graduated Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Auckland in 1990. She managed large government programmes such as the White Paper for Vulnerable Children and the development of the Vulnerable Children Act. The ministry is also having farewells this week for. She completed her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) at the University of Otago in 1991. Consequently, the Director-General has been left to face a personally invidious position once the current emergency fades. From mid-2020, Robyn was Acting Deputy Chief Executive and supported the Director General with areas such as workforce development, COVID response and cross agency relationships. These tensions created now will not be easily papered over. Dr Sarfati has a PhD from the University of Otago, is NZ College of Public Health Medicine Fellow and until 2008 was a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine. Dr Colin Tukuitonga | The Pacific Community Robyn has worked in the health sector for over 30 years. She is passionate about equity and self-determination, is driven by a deep curiosity and excited by ingenuity. She is currently a Lancet Commissioner for the Health Systems and Cancer Lancet Commission, and a member of the International Advisory Committee to Lancet Oncology, the Advisory Committee to International Agency for Research on Cancers (IARC) Pacific cancer hub, IARCs international expert group on social inequalities in cancer, and the Board of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership. Love sport? Contribute to Newsroom and support quality NZ journalism. Salary: NZ$67,497 Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) Avg. Diana was previously Tumuaki, Chief Executive & National Director of Te Aho o Te Kahu - Cancer Control Agency and prior to that shewas National Director of Cancer Control at the Ministry of Health where she oversaw the implementation of the agency. Reader donations are critical to what we do. Dr Ashley Bloomfield is stepping down as Director-General of Health.