Bloomfield was born in Napier[1] in March 1966,[2] one of three children of Allan Olaf Bloomfield and Myreine Alice Bloomfield (ne Osborne). Earlier today Bloomfield said he had received positive feedback from the public, and while there were some vitriolic responses, much worse had been directed at female colleagues - though he didn't name anyone. He is passionate about the untapped potential that allied health professions can bring in improving the quality of care provided to our populations, and in turn better meeting equitable population health needs. The Prime Ministers recent admission that the Director-General attends Cabinet meetings when Covid-19 is being discussed reinforces the worrying reality that the Director-General is now no longer an impartial public servant, but an unelected quasi-minister participating in the Cabinets decision-making in a way that no public servant previously has ever been allowed to do, no matter the crisis at hand, or which party has been in government. Labour haslargely kept silent on its own views on when and how to move New Zealand to a new phase in dealing with Covid-19, relying expressly on officials and the science. Love sport? Details of expenditure for the Director-General of Health. But here is where the problems arise. Northland . During this time, Margie led the organisation through major incidents including a measles epidemic, Whakaari White Island and was lead CEO of the Northern Regions COVID-19 outbreak response. Dr Sarfati will start on 30 July 2022, when the incumbent Dr Ashley Bloomfield leaves the role. He was appointed to the role of Clinical Informatics Director for Te Toka Tumai in 2020, and Interim Chief Digital Officer in 2022. Job Offer: Regional Director, National Public Health Service (NPHS):Maori Pacific Jobs Job description: Job Description Following the Health and Discapability System Review, a new organisation, Hauora Aotearoa | Health New Zealand (HNZ) is set to transform the way health services are delivered in . Every morning, get a snapshot of Newsrooms top 10 stories delivered to your inbox. A new director of public health has been announced by the Ministry of Health. Hitting "such high vaccination rates" had been a particular highlight, he said, including the high uptake for Mori and Pasifika aged 65 and older. As New Zealand moves from crisis to recovery mode the need to support local industry has been brought into sharp relief. The PM has the communication skills to give New Zealanders confidence we can start soon to reopen our economy and country, but needs to employ them soon, writes Peter Dunne. "Niki has decided it's time for a break and to spend some time with her family. Before New Zealand had its first case of Covid-19, back when it was referred to simply as a coronavirus (WHO would name it Covid-19 on 12 February 2020), Bloomfield and director of public health . She completed her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) at the University of Otago in 1991. Dr Nicholas Jones will take on the role as director of public health, the Ministry of Health has announced. Jeremy holds a Master of Business Administration, is a Chartered Engineer and is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (UK). Photo / Michael Cunningham. She is currently a commissioner for the Lancet Commission on Health Systems and Cancer, a member of the International Advisory Committee to Lancet Oncology, a member of the Board of the International Cancer Benchmarking Programme (ICBP), and a member of the Advisory Committee to the International Agency for Research on Cancers (IARC) Pacific cancer hub. For three years, 2006-2009, she was Regional Director of Training at the Australasian College of Public Health Medicine. It inherited the functions of the former Health Promotion Agency including public health and population health policy, strategy, regulatory, intelligence, surveillance, and monitoring. As part of reforming the health system, the Ministrys role is being refocussed on strategy, policy, regulation and monitoring the outcomes achieved by the system as a whole. That is no real surprise but will exacerbate the situation that has been allowed to develop with the Director-General. She is very knowledgeable about the health reforms and is dedicated to improving equity of outcomes in the health system.. Send your photos, videos and tip-offs to newstips@stuff.co.nz, or call us on 0800 . No longer does he appear as the impartial adviser offering considered, detached professional advice to the Government, but rather more as the explainer, amplifier, and defender of the Government decisions, in a manner that not even many ministers demonstrate. During this time, she grew Te Pou to be internationally recognised for evidence-based workforce and information/research programmes in mental health, addiction and disability and she created strong sector partnerships to enhance peoples lives through service improvement. This includes roles at the Ministry of Health (Deputy Director-General of Health), Counties Manukau District Health Board, Capital & Coast District Health Board, Labour Market Policy Group (Department of Labour) and Health Funding Authority. He then spent six years working in the Ministry, culminating in management roles in both public health and Mori health (as Manager, Te Kete Hauora). Keep up with the play with LockerRooms weekly newsletter dedicated to shining a light on NZ women in sport, curated by Suzanne McFadden. I am delighted to have Dr Jones join the team and am very much looking forward to working with him.. He said he had been thinking about the right time to leave, but he still had "very mixed feelings because I work with amazing people". In legal and statutory terms, the phrase have regard to generally means that the minister, must specifically and separately listen to the advice being proffered. Nicola Hill will act as Chief Executive of the Cancer Control Agency while Dr Sarfati is acting Director-General of Health. Indeed, ministers have frequently been unwilling to comment on any developing situation until they have received the Director-Generals advice.. Start your day with a curation of our top stories in your inbox, Help us create a sustainable future for independent local journalism. Greg has been a General Paediatrician at Starship for 14 years and Service Clinical Director for General Paediatrics for the last eight years. She has worked at University of Otago Department of Public Health since 2004 and was Associate Professor and Professor there from 2013. As Deputy Director General, Dean and his teams are working with colleagues across the health system to ensure evidence, research and innovation are embedded in the way we collectively deliver our work. Consequently, the Director-General has been left to face a personally invidious position once the current emergency fades. She is a partnerships specialist and has a background in law and Pacific development. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees from the University of Otago. New Zealand Doctor Online is not a consumer medical advice service. And in the midst of a pandemic caused by an airborne virus, where are the riskiest places to be? [1] She was the director of public health for the New Zealand Ministry of Health from 2016 to 2022, and chaired the Pandemic Influenza Technical Advisory Group, which advises the Ministry on matters concerning the control of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. One of the more interesting aspects of the course of the Covid-19 pandemic in New Zealand since March 2020 has been the development of the role of the Director-General of Health. Dr Jacobs was previously the WHO Representative to Lao People's Democratic Republic from . Peter joins us from Te Ptaka Whaioranga Pharmac (also a crown entity) where he has had three stints, most recently as Director Engagement & Implementation. Currently focusing in holistic Health and Population health promotion and prevention projects and models. Through this pathway, she progressed to complete the NHS Management Development Programme and longer term has led large and complex health services in Aotearoa New Zealand and Queensland. Signal to noise - is AM radio really under threat. Post comments with a Newsroom Pro subscription. Dr Sarfati will act in the role until a permanent appointee takes up the Director-General position. However, it was never intended to deal with more long-term situations like the pandemic, and questions quickly arose as to the legality of relying on the Health Act provisions to give the authority to the Director-General that the Government wanted. John originally joined the Ministry of Health in 1993, as a foundation member of the then newly established Mori Health Directorate, Te Kete Hauora. [14], Between 2004 and 2006, Bloomfield was the Ministry of Health's acting director of public health. Media queries: Grahame Armstrong 021 940 457 or grahame.armstrong@publicservice.govt.nz. He joined Hawkes Bay DHB in 2009 as a Public Health Physician and Medical Officer of Health after four years working at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Deputy Public Service Commissioner has today announced the appointment ofDr Diana Sarfati as Director-General of Health and Chief Executive, Ministry ofHealth. [4] During her studies in Manchester she completed a one-year exchange in New Zealand, including six months in Napier. Prior to this, Robyn worked for the Health Research Council and in the Ministry of Health in workforce development, policy and leading the Mental Health Group. In other words, it would generally be expected that the Director-Generals advice would be accepted by the minister. Over the past few years, he has tried to provide some leadership and support for our Public Health Units, and with Vui Mark Gosche has led a small team promoting effective public policy and legislation. Clare trained as a graduate nurse at Guys Hospital London, making Aotearoa New Zealandher home in 1986. [3][4][6], Bloomfield grew up in Tawa, a suburb of Wellington, and was educated at Scots College, where he was head prefect,[3] dux, played 1st XV rugby[7] and was a member of the cast of the college's production of Oklahoma! [18] Former prime minister, Geoffrey Palmer, remarked about Bloomfield: "It is a long time since a public servant has become so well-known. Sarah joined Manat Hauora in early 2019 from the Ministry of Justice, where she spent eight years in group management and deputy secretary roles, with her work including service design and improvement, service commissioning, and implementing legislative change. Dr Diana Sarfati, Director-General of Health and Chief Executive, Ministry of Health These tensions created now will not be easily papered over. [3] Within Manat Hauora, Robyn established the Mental Health and Addiction Directorate team and led the DHB Performance Programme which established an intensive support programme to support DHBs with performance challenges. She studied medicine at Queen's University Belfast and then public health at the University of Manchester. Peter Dunne was the leader of United Future and served as a minister in former National and Labour governments. [10], From late 2010 to late 2011, based at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Bloomfield worked on non-communicable disease prevention and control with a global focus. He stated that this measure would boost the number of the New Zealand population receiving water fluoridation from 51% to 60%. Read more about Infrastructure and Investment. ", "Coronavirus: Ashley Bloomfield is the face of NZ's virus defence", "The face of the Covid-19 response: Who is Ashley Bloomfield? She is passionate about equity and self-determination, is driven by a deep curiosity and excited by ingenuity. All this was avoidable. He has specialist qualifications in Medical Administration and General Practice. In addition, he wants to broaden the reach of public and population health through our work with iwi, Mori and Pacifica providers into all our communities and localities. "I think that is terrible, and it's something we need to do something about.". Award-winning author and writer Steve Braunias brings you the best literary coverage in NZ with reviews, essays, and yarns to entertain and inform you every Saturday. Either way, it goes beyond the normal brief of the Director-General, and is further confirmation of the unhealthy politicisation of the role. He is currently clinical director and medical officer of Health at Te Whatu Ora Te Matau a Mui, Hawke's Bay. Dr Nicholas Jones has worked in public health for more than 30 years Photo: RNZ / Anusha Bradley Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield revealed that the new director of public health would be Dr Nicholas Jones. A new director of public health has been announced by the Ministry of Health. Celia has a background as an organisational psychologist, with over 12 years delivering organisational development consultancy services across the public and private sectors. . This included working for the National Hauora Coalition and Procare Health and Homecare Medical. She is also a director on the boards of Beyond Blue, Australia's most recognised mental health charity. This was a major policy announcement that, if it is in fact government policy, should have come from either the Prime Minister or the Minister of Health, not a public servant. In that regard, and in fairness to the Director-General, ministers need to be thinking about severing the umbilical cord that binds them sooner rather than later, and certainly well before May 2023. Fionnagh brings significant experience in large-scale integration of health services and has led the development of single health services in Queensland, Australia and the greater Wellington region, creating high performing teams and leading sustainable transformation in partnership with clinicians, consumers and whnau. Sarahs current responsibilities include the operating model for the Ministry in the new system and the organisational design required to support it. She is expected to announce her leaving while fronting the 1pm Covid-19 press conference tomorrow. by section 111(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91). Reintegrating him back into the normal role of a normal chief executive will be a delicate task. Director-General of Health appointed 30 November 2022 The Deputy Public Service Commissioner has today announced the appointment of Dr Diana Sarfati as Director-General of Health and Chief Executive, Ministry of Health. Ms Quilter said Dr Sarfati brings the skills and experience required to lead the Ministry of Health, and to contribute to the strategic leadership of the wider health system. Her work has been focused on health systems, addressing inequity in health and cancer. Between 2015 and 2019 Dr Sarfati was co-head and then head of the University of Otagos Department of Public Health. New Zealand Doctor Online is intended for a New Zealand health professional readership. [3][4][5] His mother was a schoolteacher, while his father was a lieutenant colonel in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (Territorial Force) and a manager at Mitsubishi Motors in Porirua, and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1974 New Year Honours. Key roles and responsibilities: Digital transformation. He led the health response to the Havelock North campylobacter outbreak, co-chaired the Healthy Housing Coalition, provided leadership and expert advice on environmental health issues such as water regulation, and was part of Hawke's Bay's Covid-19 response. *See Pacific Health regional structure under Regional Leadership below. The Director-General is also responsible for the assets and liabilities on behalf of the Crown that are used by or relate to the Ministry of Health; and legislation administered by the Ministry of Health. Caroline Ann McElnay QSO ( / mk.lne /) is a medical officer in New Zealand. He was also a member of the Mori review group advising on the health and disability reforms. He is passionate about the health reforms and the unique opportunity offered for all involved to reshape the system to better meet New Zealanders needs. Dr Sarfati has a PhD from the University of Otago, is NZ College of Public Health Medicine Fellow and until 2008 was a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine. The new agency will also advise the Director-General of Health on theses issues. It is an inevitable consequence of the Governments too narrow focus from the outset of treating Covid-19 solely as a public health issue. We will miss her greatly," said a ministry email in February, obtained by the Herald, and written by McElnay. The Deputy Public Service Commissioner has today announced the appointment of Dr Diana Sarfati as Acting Director-General of Health and Chief Executive, Ministry of Health. Dr Nick Chamberlain, who has been the chief executive of the Northland District Health Board since 2011, will be the national director of the new national public health service from 1 July. She has been an impressive leader at the Cancer Control Agency., Dr Sarfati has considerable experience and a sound understanding of New Zealands health system and has strong relationships across the sector.. Maree has had a wide range of experience in the public service, primarily in social sector policy relating to children, young people, families and communities. Dr Sarfati will act in the role until a permanent appointee takes up the Director-General position. He joined Manat Hauora in 2019 in the role of GM of Health and Disability Intelligence where he led the analytics and health surveys teams, as well as a growing the health research function. He was appointed in this position in August 2021. The role of Director of Public Health was previously held by Dr Caroline McElnay, who resigned in April 2022 after holding the role for five years, including two years of the COVID-19 outbreak. In her previous role, Abbe worked with the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health in Brisbane, supporting the development of community-controlled commissioning frameworks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. [2] [3] She has three children. to ensure the health system delivers for all New Zealanders, with a focus on achieving more equitable outcomes for Mori. Interim Director, Prevention - Astrid Koornneef. [15][16] From 2006 to 2010, he was the ministry's chief public health adviser. He then moved to the Downer Group, where as a GM, Jeremy ran Downers water sector business. Subscribe now to start a free 14-day trial. Alongside his executive commitments, Dr Bramley is a practising public health medicine specialist, an Examiner at the NZ College of Public Health Medicine, an adjunct Professor of Health at AUT, and Chair of the Health Quality & Safety Commission. The ministry has also brought in a number of Medical Officers of Health, who have expertise in public health, on short term secondments from the sector, which means there remains a number of clinical staff in the sector able to be called on if needed.". She is a voluntary Chair of World Vision New Zealand. Sir Ashley Robin Bloomfield KNZM (born March 1966) is a New Zealand public health official. Jacinda Ardern says a change in Covid-19 traffic light settings would not make a significant difference on surging case numbers. She has worked at University of Otago Department of Public Health since 2004 and was Associate Professor and Professor there from 2013. From 2015 to 2019, Diana wasthe co-head and then head of the Department of Public Health and the Director of the Cancer and Chronic Conditions (C3) research group at University of Otago, Wellington. Dr Diana Sarfati was appointed to the role of Director-General of Health and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health in November 2022 having acted in the role since July 2022. In the Covid-19 emergency legislation the Government reinforced a commitment to conventional decision-making, but, unfortunately, as its use of the Director-General of Health has shown, it has not followed this in practice. She is currently a Lancet Commissioner for the Health Systems and Cancer Lancet Commission, and a member of the International Advisory Committee to Lancet Oncology, the Advisory Committee to International Agency for Research on Cancers (IARC) Pacific cancer hub, IARCs international expert group on social inequalities in cancer, and the Board of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership. From January to October 2021, Joe was the primary carelead for the COVID-19 Vaccination and Immunisation Programme, and in November 2021 he became the clinical lead for COVID Care in the Community. Robyn came to Manat Hauora with a vast range of sector experience having been the CEO for Te Pou o te Whakaaro nui for ten years. Perhaps in part due to the relative effectiveness of the COVID-19 measures taken by the New Zealand Government, Bloomfield has developed a cult following. She is a Fellow of the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine and is registered with the New Zealand Medical Council. Photo: Supplied. Prior to this Dr Sarfati was National Director of Cancer Control at the Ministry of Health to oversee the implementation of the agency. The Governments first focus throughout the pandemic has been political choreography, not the public health response, writes Peter Dunne. From January 2020 he was seconded to the COVID-19 response for the Northern Region of New Zealand, becoming the Chief Clinical Officer in February 2022. He looks forward to building a strong and effective team to strengthen and nationalise our public health services. [2], McElnay was appointed to the role of director of public health at the Ministry of Health in 2016. Deputy Director of Public Health Jun 2018 - Apr 20223 years 11 months Wellington, New Zealand Principal Technical Specialist Feb 2013 - Jun 20185 years 5 months Wellington, New Zealand. Dean has spent more than 25 years working in a range of roles across the public sector, with a focus on data, reporting and analytics. She also oversaw the development and implementation of new regulatory systems and services including assisted dying, abortion services and medicinal cannabis, and the service design and commissioning of a wide range of nationally provided and contracted community-based services. Dr Jones has worked in public health for more than 30 years. This follows the director general of health's surprise resignation that was announced earlier today, with his last day at the end of July. He joined Manat Hauora from the Bay of Plenty DHB where he was Executive of Director Allied Health, Scientific and Technical. Dr Ashley Bloomfield scores try in annual parliamentary rugby match", "The best dressed Kiwis list is out, who makes the cut? 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