DHB chair unrepentant
Former Waikato DHB chair Bob Simcock believes it was appropriate for taxpayers to pay a PR company to manage his resignation.
His resignation, which cost taxpayers $2500, needed to be professionally managed for everyone affected, he said.
Simcock resigned when details of inappropriate spending by his former employee, disgraced DHB chief
Nigel Murray, was uncovered.
In the wake of the unfolding scandal, the Waikato DHB spent $10,800 on a PR firm to manage the public fallout from the spending scandal.
The PR spend was authorised by the State Services Commission and the Ministry of Health. What wasn’t authorised, was the $2500 spent on managing Simcock’s resignation.
The issue was raised on Wednesday at the first board meeting since the release of a damning State Services Commission report into Murray’s spending.
Waikato DHB member Dave Macpherson attempted to recover the sum from Simcock for ‘‘unauthorised’’ spending but failed to get it off the table.
At the meeting, Macpherson tabled a resolution to action Simcock’s spend as ‘‘unauthorised’’ and to recover the funds he used for the letter.
But the resolution mustered support from only one other member – Mary Anne Gill and didn’t pass. Simcock said the public spend was necessary for the Government agencies involved.
‘‘I was advised by both SSC and MoH to contract specialist communications management advice,’’ he said. ‘‘When I decided to resign it was necessary to ensure this was managed in conjunction with the Minister’s office and that it was expressed in an appropriate way for all interested parties. The consultants quite appropriately assisted with that.’’
Simcock felt his spending of taxpayers’ money was not a story. ‘‘I understand this issue is being promoted by Dave Macpherson and Mary Anne Gill. Both have ongoing personal agendas that have nothing to do with the issues being raised. Did the board support their view? If not, I don’t know why you would be reporting the story.’’
Earlier this month the SSC released its investigation findings into Murray, finding more than half of Murray’s claims for travel and accommodation were unjustified. The investigation concluded Murray spent $120,608 on unjustified travel and accommodation and also found Simcock’s oversight of Murray’s expenses ‘‘lacked the rigour and standard of care expected.’’
The DHB was also unaware of Murray’s demotion from his previous role as president and chief executive of Fraser Health in May, 2014, because it failed to talk to Murray’s former employer.
In an interview with RNZ , Simcock said he spoke with the head of British Columbia Health prior to hiring Murray and was given a glowing reference. However, the head of the British Columbia Health at the time, Terry Lake, told Stuff that he did not speak to anyone from New Zealand regarding Murray. The Murray matter has now been referred to the Serious Fraud Office to investigate.