Ministry launches probe into expenses of health board boss
It is unacceptable for any public servant to try to use their official position for personal gain. State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes
Allegations of “unauthorised” spending by health board boss Dr Nigel Murray have taken a dramatic turn with a new top- level investigation launched by the Ministry of Health.
The ministry’s announcement that it wants an explanation of Murray’s expenses trumps Waikato District Health Board’s own decision — revealed yesterday — that it was shutting down an inquiry into the unexplained spending.
The decision to do so sparked concern with State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes, who told the Herald: “New Zealanders need to have confidence that public servants work to the highest standards of integrity in everything they do.”
He said the State Services Commission had no jurisdiction over district health boards but the “allegations raise serious questions about the conduct and integrity of a former State Services employee”.
“It is unacceptable for any public servant to try to use their official position for personal gain.”
Hughes said he had been advised by director- general of health Chai Chuah that the Ministry of Health was “looking into the allegations published in the New Zealand Herald against former Waikato DHB chief executive Dr Nigel Murray”.
“I have asked the director- general to brief me on the findings.”
It follows allegations in the Herald on Thursday that a two- month investigation into Murray’s spending was understood to have found he used public money for expenses associated with at least one woman who was not his wife.
Ministry of Health director of critical projects Michael Hundleby confirmed the ministry had asked board chairman Bob Simcock to explain.
It has asked Simcock to “provide a briefing on recent allegations and his investigation into” Murray’s expenditure.
“We will then review the information, and brief the State Services Commissioner,” Hundleby said.
A Waikato DHB spokeswoman confirmed the DHB was aware the ministry was writing to request a briefing “which we will provide”.
Simcock said the DHB had no interest in withholding any information from the public.
“But it does have to meet its legal obligations to balance public interest with the protection of the privacy of individuals.
“On that basis, it is unlikely there will be anything in a briefing to the Ministry of Health that we would not be happy for the public to know.”
However, the announcement came at the same time the DHB continued to refuse to release details of the investigation to the public.
The DHB said on Thursday that it would not release details of “unauthorised expenses involving potential financial breaches of Dr Murray’s obligations” because he resigned on October 5.
“Because Dr Murray resigned, the investigation into his management of expenses was never completed,” the DHB spokeswoman said. “There were therefore no findings and the DHB is legally unable to speculate on what the findings might have been had the investigation been completed.”