Levy resigns from health boards to take advisory role

AUCKLAND: The chairman of Auckland’s three district health boards yesterday announced his resignation.

Lester Levy was appointed chairman of Counties Manukau, Auckland and Waitemata District Health Boards in November last year.

He has been chairman of Waitemata board since 2009.

He explained in an email to board staff that his resignation was because he was would soon reach the maximum period of service he could legally serve as chairman at Waitemata.

Dr Levy said he was bringing forward his finishing date to late January because he had since been appointed as one of five advisers on the ministerial advis ory health group set up by Health Minister David Clark.

The group would advise Dr Clark on lifting the Ministry of Health’s leadership and performance, strengthening relationships across the sector and helping to deliver the Government’s strategic direction for health.

‘‘I will now bring my finishing date forward to late January 2018 to avoid any perceived conflicts of interest with my role as chair of the three metro Auckland DHBs and as chair of the Northern Region Governance Group.

Those perceived conflicts related to the scale of populationbased health funding received by the Auckland DHBs and the Northern Region, he said. — NZME