Canterbury DHB loses top execs

Canterbury District Health Board CEO David Meates has resigned after 10 years in a surprise announcement, which follows the departure of executive director of planning Carolyn Gullery.

Mr Meates led the DHB through some of its most challenging events, including the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes and the terrorist attacks in March 2019.

The earthquake rebuild costs have plunged the DHB's finances into a deficit of almost $180 million. Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton said the board had put Mr Meates in an untenable position through demands that costs are cut.

DHB chair John Hansen said Mr Meates' legacy included new health facilities at Te Nikau in Greymouth, the Kaikoura Health Centre, Burwood Hospital and Christchurch Hospital Hagley, along with state of the art digital platforms and analytics.

Ms Gullery has been with the DHB for 13 years and is the executive sponsor of HealthPathways. She was also executive sponsor of the South Island's HealthOne shared care record and led the analytical function.

She is moving to the UK to work for health information technology provider Lightfoot Solutions.

The DHB's chief financial officer, Justine White, is also leaving Canterbury to join Auckland DHB.

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