The Waikato District Health Board covers a large area, with it being more rural than New Zealand, with 60% of its population living outside main urban areas. Currently, on the board, there is only 1 elected board member representing those outside of Hamilton. I believe it is important to have rural communities fairly represented on the board.
Living and working in rural Waikato, I have a passion for ensuring health care services are available to those that live in rural communities in a way that is sustainable - financially and socially.
If elected my 6 main priorities are:
1. Ensure rural health services to rural families and communities meet their needs and are sustainable.
2. Finding innovative ways to make efficiency gains across all aspects of
the DHBs operations and services. With
both costs and population rising the need to find innovative ways to meet
budget and population needs will increase.
3. Integration to ensure primary care needs match the diverseness of our people. Our population is made up of 24% in low
socio-economic (up 4% on the national average), 22% Maori, 3% Pacific, 7%
Asian, 15% older than 65 and 36% younger than 24%. Going forward we are
expecting an increase in the Maori and elderly population.
4. Promotion of collaboration with neighbouring
DHBs to provide care to parts of the region. In order for Waikato DHB to
achieve outcomes, collaboration is a fundamental way forward.
5. To ensure there is a focus on quality and safety
of the services offered. Key performance
indicators that allow us to monitor this on an on-going basis.
6. Preventative health and eduction being fundamental.
My husband and I run
a drystock (sheep & beef) hill country equity farming operation on 500 ha
in West Waikato. I have worked for 16 years in agri-business, more recently as an Agricultural Consultant for the Waikato/King Country area.
I have a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (first class
honours) and have undertaken governance training through the Institute of
Directors, of which I am a current member.
Recently, I was a finalist in the Waikato 2013 Aspiring Director
Award. I have a good understanding of
finance and strategic planning, strong team work and communication skills, able
to critique situations, ask questions and progress to an end point.
Whilst I have not worked directly in the Health Sector, I
believe this enables me to provide an independent view point, and is not
tainted by any involvement as many of the others have. In saying that, it is important for an
effective board to have a diverse range of skill.
I am a mother of 1 and am on the Te Akau School Board of
Trustees.
A vote for Sally Lee is a vote for independence,
professionalism and a female, rural perspective.