Two Wellington region DHBs will have one boss to run both.

Capital & Coast (CCDHB) and Hutt Valley (HVDHB) district health boards have confirmed they will appoint a joint chief executive to run operations.

The new boss will oversee health services across Kāpiti, Porirua, Wellington and Hutt Valley.

“This is about both boards being clear in the vision they want – a unified health service across the region that provides better and fairer access to the same excellent healthcare services,” said joint DHB chairman Andrew Blair in a statement.

“We know that, with growing demand on health services, we need to take a closer look at how we operate and deliver services.

Asked about potential job losses, Blair said the goal of having a single point of leadership was not based on cost saving and it would be up to the new chief executive to develop an operating model.

The new chief executive would work closely with neighbouring DHBs and would develop strong partnerships. ” Particularly with Wairarapa DHB, which will have a critical role in any future design work,” he said.

The two DHBs combined receive funding to “improve, promote and protect the health” of about 450,000 people.

Together, they had revenue in the last financial year of about $1.5 billion and employed more than 6000 people, based on a full-time equivalent basis.

Acting chief executives Julie Patterson (CCDHB) and Dale Oliff at HVDHB agreed to extend their roles to March 2019and both support the boards’ decision to move to a single chief executive, he said.

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