Given the governments constant and frequently stated position that its Covid-19 response has always followed the public health advice, the legal niceties of the Covid-19 emergency legislation notwithstanding, the reality has been that the Director-Generals advice has normally prevailed. She is also a director on the boards of Beyond Blue, Australia's most recognised mental health charity. Photo / Michael Cunningham. This would have allowed the Director-General to focus more specifically on the primary responsibilities of the role as chief executive of the Ministry of Health, including the medium and long-term sustainability of the public health system. ), 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. Robyn has worked in the health sector for over 30 years. Diana is a former member of the National Cancer Programme Leadership Board, the National Screening Advisory Group, the National Ethics Advisory Committee, the Bowel Cancer Taskforce and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Advisory Committee. Media queries: Grahame Armstrong 021 940 457 or grahame.armstrong@publicservice.govt.nz. Reintegrating him back into the normal role of a normal chief executive will be a delicate task. She was also joint Associate Director of Nursing: Mori at Auckland District Health Board and the University of Auckland for four years. 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. Consumers should seek advice from a health professional and not act in reliance on any statement contained in the information provided. 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. A national system was set up quickly so critical details could be more easily shared, as well as the workload. [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. She completed her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) at the University of Otago in 1991. McElnay, C., & University of Manchester. A weekly digest of the latest news and insights on climate change and sustainability. Interim Director, Prevention Astrid Koornneef, Maria Lafaele, Interim Pacific Lead, Directors Office, Tofilau Talalelei Taufale, Interim National Pacific Health Commissioning Lead and Pacific Lead RSE and Transformation, Pauline Fuimaono Sanders, Interim National Pacific Health Workforce Lead, Teei Kaiaruna, Interim National Pacific Integrated Contracts Sprint Lead, Namoe Tuipulotu, Interim National Pacific Intelligence Lead, Amanaki Misa, Interim Hospital Services Re-design Lead (Te Waipounamu), Director, Intelligence Dr Juliet Rumball-Smith, see NPHS regional structure under 'Regional leadership' below, Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Te Tai Tokerau Northland Tracey Schiebli(1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Te Toka Tumai Auckland Dr Mike Shepherd(1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Counties Manukau Dr Vanessa Thornton(1 Jan - 30 June 2023), Interim Lead - Hospital and Specialist Services, Waitemat Mark Shepherd(until new appt. In other words, it would generally be expected that the Director-Generals advice would be accepted by the minister. Dr Jones has worked in public health for more than 30 years. A new director of public health has been announced by the Ministry of Health. 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. Lorraine started her career as a registered nurse and then progressed into roles as a Nursing Leader and Nursing Director accountable for strategy, workforce planning, policy and primary healthcare delivery. Fionnagh has also been Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland and a Past President of Children's Healthcare Australasia. McElnay, whose last day is tomorrow and whose resignation was announced to ministry staff in February, has regularly fronted press conferences throughout the pandemic, usually when Bloomfield has been away. Photo: Pool/Robert Kitchin, Stuff. [14], Between 2004 and 2006, Bloomfield was the Ministry of Health's acting director of public health. As Deputy Director General, Dean and his teams are working with colleagues across the health system to ensure evidence, research and innovation are embedded in the way we collectively deliver our work. 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. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins gave a personal thank you to the person he said Kiwis knew as "the DG". Deputy Director of Public Health Jun 2018 - Apr 20223 years 11 months Wellington, New Zealand Principal Technical Specialist Feb 2013 - Jun 20185 years 5 months Wellington, New Zealand. Hitting "such high vaccination rates" had been a particular highlight, he said, including the high uptake for Mori and Pasifika aged 65 and older. The latest chapter in the removal of a 23-million-year-old whale relic sparks further fury. And in the midst of a pandemic caused by an airborne virus, where are the riskiest places to be? ", "Covid 19 coronavirus: Ashley Bloomfield apologises to MPs for giving wrong information on infected UN staffer", "Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield to step down from role", "Dr Ashley Bloomfield orders 14 councils' water supplies to be fluoridated", "Ashley Bloomfield appointed University of Auckland professor", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashley_Bloomfield&oldid=1132654386, This page was last edited on 9 January 2023, at 22:39. 21 Jun, 2022 06:30 PM 3 mins to read. ", "Coronavirus: Ashley Bloomfield is the face of NZ's virus defence", "The face of the Covid-19 response: Who is Ashley Bloomfield? The Deputy Public Service Commissioner has today announced the appointment of Dr Diana Sarfati as Acting Director-General of Health and Chief Executive, Ministry of Health. 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. She went on to hold senior leadership roles within ACC, and then in ESR as General Manager People and Communications, before joining Manat Hauora as the Group Manager People and Capability. Markerita has also worked as the Director of Pacific Health for the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre where she led the regional (from Northland to Counties Manukau) approach to the Pacific health response to COVID-19 and partnered with the Pacific Provider Collective to develop a regional commissioning framework to deliver adaptive models of care. Sarahs management career has included policy, service delivery and operations, as well as leading and embedding organisational change. If you can help us, please click the button to ensure we can continue to provide quality independent journalism you can trust. He led the health response to the Havelock North campylobacter outbreak, co-chaired the Healthy Housing Coalition, provided leadership and expert advice on environmental health issues such as water regulation, and was part of Hawke's Bay's Covid-19 response. Dr Nick Chamberlain, who has been the chief executive of the Northland District Health Board since 2011, will be the national director of the new national public health service from 1 July. During this time, Margie led the organisation through major incidents including a measles epidemic, Whakaari White Island and was lead CEO of the Northern Regions COVID-19 outbreak response. The role of director of public health was previously held by Dr Caroline McElnay, who resigned in April. [10], From late 2010 to late 2011, based at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Bloomfield worked on non-communicable disease prevention and control with a global focus. How will the position be transitioned back to the more standard role of a department chief executive, like every other chief executive? New Zealand Doctor Online is not a consumer medical advice service. Rather, as the current problems with border control, managed isolation, economic re-integration, and policing demonstrate all too bleakly, it required a whole of government approach that the Director-General of Health and the ministry were never going to be capable of providing. The Deputy Public Service Commissioner has today announced the appointment of Dr Diana Sarfati as Acting Director-General of Health and Chief Executive, Ministry of Health. Celia has a background as an organisational psychologist, with over 12 years delivering organisational development consultancy services across the public and private sectors. She was Director of the Cancer and Chronic Disease Research Group at University of Otago. 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. [29], In late July 2022, Bloomfield ordered 14 territorial authorities including the Auckland Council, Hastings District Council, New Plymouth District Council, Rotorua Lakes District Council, Tauranga City Council, Waitaki District Council, Far North District Council, and the Whangarei District Council to add fluoride to their water supplies. Post comments with a Newsroom Pro subscription. She has dedicated herself to providing the very best public health advice on a wide range of topics over her time at the ministry but I would like to thank her especially for her hard work on the Covid response and for her support to our team and colleagues across the sector. She also oversaw the development and implementation of new regulatory systems and services including assisted dying, abortion services and medicinal cannabis, and the service design and commissioning of a wide range of nationally provided and contracted community-based services. 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. Fionnagh is a Member of the Health Roundtable and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Dr Dale Bramley - National Director, Improvement and Innovation Dr Nick Chamberlain - National Director, National Public Health Service Fionnagh Dougan - National Director, Hospital & Specialist Services Jeremy Holman - Chief Infrastructure and Investment Officer Rosalie Percival - Chief Financial Officer Relocating to New Zealand in 2009, Jeremy started with GHD as an infrastructure strategy consultant. New Zealand Doctor Online is intended for a New Zealand health professional readership. She also contributed to the set-up of the Childrens Ministry. Renewed council efforts to control Otagos most notorious pest are not equal to the task of keeping rabbit numbers down a review has found. Fionnagh brings significant experience in large-scale integration of health services and has led the development of single health services in Queensland, Australia and the greater Wellington region, creating high performing teams and leading sustainable transformation in partnership with clinicians, consumers and whnau. The Director is responsible for the overall delivery of their assigned workstream. Despite the health workforce crisis, government health officials have given short shrift to an unprecedented proposal to double the numbers of specialised nurses who can cover for a shortfall of GPs. COMMENTS BY Jim Dowsett, Allan Vester, John Maindonald, Nick Duff & others, The Government has come to rely on the Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, in a way unprecedented in the NZ public service, writes Peter Dunne. He joined Manat Hauora in 2019 in the role of GM of Health and Disability Intelligence where he led the analytics and health surveys teams, as well as a growing the health research function. Although based in the Public Health Agency, Dr Jones will also provide public health leadership to the National Public Health Service, the incoming Deputy Director-General for the Public Health Agency, Dr Andrew Old says. Fepuleai is an honorific (or chief title) from her family village of Saleaula, Savaii, Samoa. He stated that this measure would boost the number of the New Zealand population receiving water fluoridation from 51% to 60%. This article, written by David Codyre, Ainsleigh Cribb-Sua and David Todd, outlines progress in rollout, challenges faced and what is being learnt, Health priorities of older adults often include longevity, however health outcomes such as quality of life and independence are often considered to be as important or more important than a long life. Like all departmental chief executives, the Director-Generals primary responsibility is to the minister, in this case the Minister of Health. The role of Director is critical in leading, managing and delivering the commitments made by government to support small businesses in New Zealand. In many ways, the unhealthy relationship between ministers and the Director-General undermines the usual separation between ministers and officials and, by extension, the impartiality of the public service. A new Director of Public Health has been appointed and will join Manat Hauora on 15 August, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says. [15][16] From 2006 to 2010, he was the ministry's chief public health adviser. [18] Former prime minister, Geoffrey Palmer, remarked about Bloomfield: "It is a long time since a public servant has become so well-known. Video / NZ Herald. Sarahs current responsibilities include the operating model for the Ministry in the new system and the organisational design required to support it. Peter joins us from Te Ptaka Whaioranga Pharmac (also a crown entity) where he has had three stints, most recently as Director Engagement & Implementation. A new Director of Public Health has been appointed and will join Manat Hauora on 15 August, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says. Government appoints new Director General of Health Stacey Kirk 14:47, May 22 2018 RACHEL THOMAS/STUFF DHB chief executive Dr Ashley Bloomfield has been made Director General of Health.. But it was also a very different role to the one he came into four years ago, and the timing was good for someone new to come in, Bloomfield said. Im pleased to announce that Dr Nicholas Jones will take the role of Director of Public Health, which is so important to the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders, Dr Bloomfield says. In November 2020, Dr Jones was awarded a New Zealand Public Service Medal Award for his exceptional contribution to health in Hawkes Bay. She is a Fellow of the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine and is registered with the New Zealand Medical Council. [2] Dr Nick Chamberlain was Northland DHB Chief Executive for nearly 12 years. Director, Intelligence - Dr Juliet Rumball-Smith. (1991). He will bring together the 12 existing public . [28], In early April 2022, Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes announced that Bloomfield would step down as Director-General of Health on 29 July 2022. Dr Jacobs was previously the WHO Representative to Lao People's Democratic Republic from . Celia has extensive experience in people strategy, policy development and implementation of organisation-wide initiatives, along with strong technical expertise in organisational and capability development, culture change and employee engagement. This provision was designed with a short-term national health crisis in mind and was the initial authority that the Government turned to when Covid-19 broke out. 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. She has been appointed for five years from 1 December. Dr Nick Chamberlain has been appointed Health New Zealand's national director of the new National Public Health Service. Greg has been a General Paediatrician at Starship for 14 years and Service Clinical Director for General Paediatrics for the last eight years. He is a proud generalist, enjoying the challenge of the variety of presentations that are seen in primary care. Dr Sarfati has held a number of national and international roles. "Along with many others in the health sector she has worked tirelessly, sacrificing many nights, weekends and weeks away from family to ensure that throughout our response, there has been strong, clear public health advice which has kept us all safe.". Audio. [4] During her studies in Manchester she completed a one-year exchange in New Zealand, including six months in Napier. [10] Former health reporter Tess Nichol, writing for the American online magazine Slate, described him as "New Zealand's current obsession, an unlikely heartthrob, a mild-mannered health care hero". As New Zealand moves from crisis to recovery mode the need to support local industry has been brought into sharp relief. Award-winning author and writer Steve Braunias brings you the best literary coverage in NZ with reviews, essays, and yarns to entertain and inform you every Saturday. Dr Nicholas Jones, who is currently Clinical Director and Medical Officer of Health at Te Whatu Ora Te Matau a Mui, Hawke's Bay, will take up the role based in the Public Health Agency. 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. [3][4][5] His mother was a schoolteacher, while his father was a lieutenant colonel in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (Territorial Force) and a manager at Mitsubishi Motors in Porirua, and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1974 New Year Honours. Bloomfield chose the nickname "The Eliminator" for the match, in which he opened the scoring with the first try. The Director-General of Health is a pivotal role leading a sector critical to the overall wellbeing of New Zealanders. Originally from Colorado in the USA, Abbe is a dual citizen of New Zealand and Australia and has undertaken executive study at Otago University and worked alongside rural hospitals in Te Waipounamu earlier in her career. Margies career spans over 20 years in executive roles in the public sector in Wellington and Auckland. Dr Nicholas Jones has worked in public health for more than 30 years Photo: RNZ / Anusha Bradley Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield revealed that the new director of public health would be Dr Nicholas Jones. Dr Sarfati holds Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees from the University of Otago. 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. "After five years in the role of director of public health and five years of commuting from her Napier home Caroline has decided the time is now right for her to explore new opportunities and, initially, a wonderful six months of travel with her husband," Woodley said. [2], McElnay, one of seven children, grew up on a farm in Bushmills, Northern Ireland. [3] She has three children. Most Likely Range. He was awarded Fellowship of the New Zealand Medical Association in 2011 for services to the profession and the public. [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. Find out what support is available near you. Burnout is thought to have played a major role in their decisions to leave, and it's a factor that is being felt across the whole health sector, along with Covid-fatigue. While youre here would you like to sign up to any of our other email newsletters? At the same time, however, the minister was required to have regard to the advice of the Director-General. Dr Nicholas Jones has worked in public health for more than 30 years New Zealand government works", "Covid 19 coronavirus: Dr Ashley Bloomfield taking holiday after 'relentless' six months", "All the weird and wonderful creative tributes to Dr Ashley Bloomfield", "Morrinsville woman gets portrait of Ashley Bloomfield tattooed on her leg", "Dr Ashley Bloomfield helps his Centurions XV team win the parliamentary rugby match", "Dr Bloomfield the 'Eliminator' to star alongside ex All Blacks", "Bloomfa! After Downer Group Jeremy held senior roles at Auckland Council and Air New Zealand where he ran the regional ground handing operations and worked alongside airport companies and other local stakeholders on the expansion and redevelopment of many of New Zealands regional airports. The ministry has also brought in a number of Medical Officers of Health, who have expertise in public health, on short term secondments from the sector, which means there remains a number of clinical staff in the sector able to be called on if needed.". She initially trained as a registered general nurse followed by qualification as a mental health and addiction professional. He was a member of an Independent External Review of SPC in 2012. Abbe Anderson brings diverse experience across hospital and primary care, including two decades leading complex system reforms. The estimated total pay for a Director of Public Health is $96,248 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $78,374 per year. This was a national role and involved leading a sizeable team from Whangarei to Southland delivering operations, maintenance and capital projects to local government clients across the country. [8], Bloomfield graduated Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Auckland in 1990. Martinhas a doctoral degree from AUT examining health workforce change. Historically, the role of the Director-General, as chief executive of the Ministry of Health, has been to ensure the ministry carries out its statutory functions, including the medium and long-term sustainability of the public health system and is able to offer free and frank advice to successive governments. Margie's most recent role was as Chief Executive Officer, Counties Manukau Health. This campaign aims to reduce low-value health care and improve patient experiences. A new director of public health has been announced by the Ministry of Health. [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 Commission is running a recruitment process for the permanent Director-General of Health role and will advertise shortly. P.S- Working as a public health professionals in New Zealand and currently not in clinical practice. Over her career, Maree has had a variety of roles including as a Private Secretary, managing employment and skills policy in the Department of Labour, and working for the Ministry of Education in Christchurch following the earthquakes. 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It inherited the functions of the former Health Promotion Agency including public health and population health policy, strategy, regulatory, intelligence, surveillance, and monitoring. Dr Nicholas Jones will take on the role as director of public health, the Ministry of Health has announced. In a career which also includes banking and insurance, Rosalies most recent roles prior to joining us as CFO have included serving as chief financial officer for Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, and Auckland and Waitemat. Her last day in the role was 7 April. Most recentlythe interim National Director Hospital & Specialist Services for Te Whatu Ora, Dr Bramley was previously the Chief Executive of Waitemat DHB for more than 10 years serving a population of around 625,000 people and a staff of 8,700. The Director of Public Health is a key statutory role providing public health leadership across the Public Health Agency and the National Public Health Service within Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand), and provides professional support and oversight for Medical Officers of Health. This follows the director general of health's surprise resignation that was announced earlier today, with his last day at the end of July. Jeremy was previously the GM Infrastructure Delivery for Crown Infrastructure Partners, with responsibility for the delivery oversight of $6 billion ofmajor infrastructure programmes receiving NZ Government stimulus funding. 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. Historically, the role of the Director-General, as chief executive of the Ministry of Health, has been to ensure the ministry carries out its statutory functions, including the medium and long-term sustainability of the public health system and is able to offer free and frank advice to successive governments. Dr Sarfati has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the public health system in New Zealand and I am very pleased to announce her appointment to the role, said Ms Quilter. Dr Jones has worked in public health for more than 30 years and has been part of the DHB executive leadership team as Health Improvement and Equity clinical director. From 2015 to 2018, Bloomfield was chief executive at Hutt Valley District Health Board.