Lester Levy was appointed as Health NZ commissioner in July. Photo: RNZ
The Commissioner at Te Whatu Ora / Health NZ says there's a "cocktail of issues" at the agency that need dealing with but its "precarious" financial position isn't the most pressing.
Lester Levy was appointed to the job two months ago after financial concerns were raised with Health Minister Shane Reti.
Speaking to MPs at Parliament's health select committee on Wednesday, Levy reiterated $130-$140 million deficits were being recorded each month and if they don't stabilise the agency was looking at a $1.4 billion deficit by the end of the financial year.
"A lot of attention has been focussed on financial issues, that is not the main show in town as far as we're concerned.
"The main show in town is actually getting these waiting times down, ensuring the services are safe and of high quality and creating an environment within the organisation that is a rewarding environment for staff to work and we've got challenges across all these domains," he told MPs.
Waiting times are "excessively long" according to Levy and have been for quite some time and have deteriorated over a number of years.
He added productivity at Te Whatu Ora was also low.
"So a lot to do but a high degree of optimism we can restore Health NZ to a highly functional organisation delivering the kind of results patients need and deserve."
Labour's health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall pressed Levy and Health NZ chief executive Margie Apa on the high number of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that have been signed at the agency since November.
Nearly 70 staff have NDAs, a practice that is usually rare given public service contracts already contain confidentiality clauses.
Verrall said she had seen some of the agreements signed.
"They ask officials not to discuss their ideas - this is North Korean, get rid of it," she directed at Levy.
Verrall added the Public Service Commissioner had asked her to raise the issue directly with Levy.
"I have seen that request and I am responding to it, but I think I've made my position clear, it's not something I would ask for or necessarily do," Levy said.
He said he wasn't aware of the NDAs when he took on the commissioner role and had been clear he doesn't agree with their use.
Verrall also enquired whether a financial plan, which was required to be produced by the agency but was overdue, was near completion.
Apa said the organisation was "weeks away" from finishing it but it would still need ministerial sign off and had to be audited before it was publicly released.
"I've had advice that will take months so I'm proposing to get agreement from the minister to release it as an interim plan," she said.
Levy confirmed Health NZ would return to producing monthly financial statements and while he hadn't contemplated publishing the minutes and agendas from his commissioner meetings, he said he'll give "strong consideration" to doing so.
