John Hannifin, a long-time health worker and latterly consumer/health promotion champion has been appointed chairman of the newly established MidCentral District Health Board Consumer Council.
The three-year appointment, starting on 1 January 2017, will see Mr Hannifin chair a group that will provide advice to the governance and management of MidCentral DHB.
Work is underway on selecting other consumer council members who will have responsibility for:
• Consumer involvement and engagement in designing and planning and delivering healthcare and disability support services
• Consumers and whanau as active partners in their care
• Consumers networks and capacity, ie connected consumers, and
• Consumer empowerment where people and whanau are informed and take responsibility for their own health.
Mr Hannifin was jointly recommended by the CEO of MDHB Kathryn Cook, and the CEO of Central PHO Chiquita Hansen. They said: “John is highly regarded for both his work in the health sector as a consumer representative, and for his work in health promotion and the field of problem gambling.” The MDHB confirmed the appointment this month.
Mr Hannifin worked in mental health and public health for 20 years until 1994, then operated a successful private commercial business for 15 years. He has also worked in social marketing, and health issues, including sexual health and smoking cessation.
In latter years he has become involved in providing a consumer perspective to many areas of health. He previously served on the MidCentral Health Ethics Committee, and Clinical Leadership Council. He is a member of the Central Regional Quality and Safety Alliance, and the Ministry of Health’s Equity and Public Information Group of the Prostate Cancer Working Group. Mr Hannifin is also a member of the Central PHO’s Clinical Council, and is involved in the newly developed Consumer Council National Collective.
He has completed co-design training through Ko Awatea, and the Health Quality and Safety Commission’s consumer training and adverse event review modules.
Mr Hannifin’s appointment comes just weeks after the appointment of the other new MDHB council role – Dr Simon Allan who will chair a new MDHB Clinical Council. The next step will be the appointment of council members next year.
Contact: Communications Unit (06) 350-8945