Board member remains suspended

Waikato DHB board member Dr Suresh Vatsyayann remains a suspended board member despite giving what he says was an apology to the board today.

Chairman Graeme Milne said the seven-minute statement from Dr Vatsyayann was "not the required apology."

"We act with integrity and we spend our dollars on making people healthy. We need board members of the highest integrity and capability. Dr Vatsyayann does not meet those standards.

"As a member of the medical profession Dr Vatsayayann had the opportunity to make a contribution as an elected member of the board. He has not brought productive debate to the table."

Mr Milne said the board had the right to govern its own affairs and would not stand by and allow any unjustified accusations to be made without consequences.

"The board has complete confidence in the chief executive, management and staff of Waikato DHB," said Mr Milne.

Dr Vatsyayann was suspended from the board on 17 December last year and asked to withdraw comments and apologise to the board and staff.

He did not respond or apologise but attended today's board meeting where he asked board members to give him the opportunity to make a statement.

Mr Milne said the statement was "simply more of the rhetoric we have come to expect from Dr Vatsyayann."

"The DHB is a billion dollar organisation with more than 5800 staff and it is responsible for the health and wellbeing of more than 360,000 people.

"Those people, the DHB staff, management and board members deserve to have board members with the highest professional and ethical standards.

"Dr Vatsyayann's behaviour continues to be below those standards," said Mr Milne.

Date: 10 February 2010

ENDS

The board unanimously supported Mr Milne's recommendation that Dr Vatsyayann remained suspended until he withdrew the comments and apologised.