Clark apology over Middlemore

WELLINGTON: Health Minister David Clark apologised to the former chairman of Counties Manukau District Health Board for the position he had been left in over Middlemore Hospital’s building problems, correspondence from the exchairman claims.

Text messages and an email reveal former acting district health board chairman Rabin Rabindran’s increasing concern over public comments from Dr Clark about what he was told about the state of the buildings at Middlemore and how the announcement of Mr Rabindran’s departure from the board was handled.

Dr Clark has previously said he was not told of the extent of problems at Middlemore Hospital when he visited on March 13, but Mr Rabindran said he had been told verbally, and in documents handed to him at the time.

National Botany MP JamiLee Ross says the correspondence shows Dr Clark ignored Mr Rabindran’s pleas to set the record straight.

In an email to DHB senior executives on April 13, Mr Rabindran, who had by then been told his position and that of fellow board member Mark Darrow were under threat, outlined a phone call that day from Dr Clark.

‘‘I said that I have a good reputation but all this in the media is affecting that reputation. He [Dr Clark] kept apologising. I wish I could have recorded what he said.

‘‘Polite and apologetic as he was, I have difficulty with him saying one thing in public and then calling me with the messages he gave me privately. It is going to be interesting what his proposed media statement is going to be.’’

Two days later Mr Rabindran texted Dr Clark.

‘‘Thank you for your call on Friday [April 13] and apologising for the position I have been put in.

‘‘I also appreciate your recognition that I have acted respectfully throughout and kept my word of not discussing this with the media before agreeing the wording of the media release.

‘‘Even though you agree that the state of Middlemore happened well before my time, my reputation has been badly affected.’’

On April 18, Dr Clark called Mr Rabindran and left a voicemail which Mr Ross says is evidence Dr Clark tried to ‘‘silence’’ Mr Rabindran.

Mr Ross said the new documents showed Dr Clark ignored repeated pleas to front up and clarify the issues.

In a statement, Dr Clark said it was clear Mr Rabindran felt aggrieved over his departure from board.

‘‘It’s true he was acting chair for only a matter of months and the building issues at Middlemore developed well before that time.

‘‘If he felt that he was somehow being blamed for those building issues then that’s unfortunate,’’ Dr Clark said.

‘‘I have always been very clear where responsibility lay — with the previous government which underfunded health for so long.’’

Dr Clark said he had never denied being given documents about the building issues but maintained that the full range of building issues was not raised with him facetoface when he visited.

Mr Rabindran did not respond to requests for comment. — NZME