Dr David ClarkThe country's 20 health board bosses have spent $1.2 million of taxpayer money on travel, training and meetings in three years, prompting concern the spending needs to be reined in. Minister of Health David Clark said last night he wanted evidence the spending was worthwhile, while a former DHB chief executive described international travel as an unnecessary luxury. The biggest spender was former Waikato District Health Board chief executive Dr Nigel Murray, who resigned in October after spending $218,166 between July 2014 and June 2017. Former Counties Manukau DHB chief executive Geraint Martin spent $16,762 on a six-day "United States sabbatical'', and Nick Chamberlain spent $119,487 as chief executive of Northland DHB. "This should be strictly prioritised on the basis of improving DHB health services for the community and improving working relationships with staff.''

Source: Otago Daily Times December 15, 2017 20:48 UTC