Douglas forced to quit DHB

Ken Douglas – the former unionist known as "Red Ken" – has been forced to resign from Capital and Coast District Health Board by Health Minister Tony Ryall.

Mr Douglas, who was appointed deputy chairman of the board in 2007, told The Dominion Post yesterday that he had not wanted to tender his resignation. "The minister asked for it."

He is the first casualty of Mr Ryall's decision to replace some appointed board members with appointees who will sit on more than one district health board.

"He announced some time ago that he was reviewing all ministerial appointments and I was approached by a Ministry of Health representative to indicate that the minister was considering my position," Mr Douglas said.

He was frustrated to be forced from the board less than a year before his term was due to run out.

"I made that quite clear to the ministry person that ... I would have liked to have seen the term out."

The changes new Capital and Coast chief executive Ken Whelan had made so far were "very positive" and he would have liked to remain long enough to see them entrenched, Mr Douglas said.

He did not take his dumping as a personal slight.

"I fully understand and accept the process of political appointments."

His resignation was effective from October 23, but he has not yet been replaced.

Mr Ryall would not comment on Mr Douglas's resignation yesterday. A spokesman said a replacement had not been chosen but was likely to be someone with financial expertise. It could be a Hutt Valley District Health Board member. "With these two district health boards, the successes of each depends on the other being successful."

The Dominion Post understands that Hutt Valley board member Keith Hindle has been suggested as a potential candidate. Mr Hindle, a former chief executive of law firm KPMG Legal, said it was inappropriate to comment but did not rule out a possible appointment.

Board chairman Sir John Anderson would not comment on Mr Douglas's resignation or say who his likely replacement would be.

Labour Party health spokeswoman Ruth Dyson said she was disappointed Mr Douglas had been forced off the board.

"Ken Douglas not being on the Capital and Coast District Health Board will be a big loss to the region because he's such a big contributor."

WHO IS ON A BOARD?

Normally, up to 11 people sit on each of the 21 district health boards:

Seven members are elected by the public during local body elections.

Up to four more members can be appointed to each board by the health minister.

The minister can also appoint Crown monitors to boards if he or she is concerned about their performance.