Ep 13: Phillip Balmer - Chief Operating Officer Middlemore Hospital

Pushing The Limits

Phillip Balmer has had more than 33 years of experience in the health sector with 20 years at the senior management or executive level and 15 years of that involved with commissioning or redesigning health care facilities. He is a strong strategic leader and is brilliant at leading change, he is very people-focused. His goal is to develop an engaged workforce who are empowered and capable to drive and manage change.

In his current role he has responsiblity for 7500 employees and a 1.5 billion dollar budget.

The role also includes overall responsibility of CMDHB hospital services.

The combined size of Manukau Health Park and Middlemore Hospital makes it one of the largest emergency, ambulatory and inpatient facilities in Australasia. They also provide tertiary services in orthoplastics trauma, burns, and spinal services.

Past roles include being Chief Operating Officer for the Bay Of Plenty District Health boad, Chief Operating Officer for the Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports medicine Hospital and many more roles.

In this interview we look at the state of the Health system in New Zealand, what the future holds, how he hopes to improve the collaboration between hospital services and community based primary health organisations and his new project setting up NZ's best rehabilitation centre.

We discuss managements styles and his approach to leadership, some of the major challenges the health sector faces in future. and much more.