Former Nurse to Head Pegasus Doctors’ Group

Former mental health nurse Vince Barry has been appointed to head Canterbury general practice group Pegasus Health.

Barry, a health worker of almost 30 years experience, will take on the new role of chief executive at Pegasus Health this year.

The role of managing director will be disestablished when the current boss, Dr Paul McCormack, leaves in October.

Most recently, Barry has been a general manager with the Canterbury District Health Board.

Barry said he felt very privileged to take on the new role.

“While much of my career has been spent in secondary care, I am very aware of the pivotal role general practice plays across the health sector,” Barry said. “General practice teams can make such a difference to the health of not only their own patients but the communities they work in.”

Pegasus Health chairman Dr Martin Seers said Barry had wide experience as a health manager, ranging from mental health to elective surgery.

Barry’s background as a mental health nurse was important to Pegasus which was an organisation with a strong focus on clinical leadership.

“The reason we exist is to support doctors, nurses and practice teams in providing the best care they possibly can to patients, and to ensure robust general practice services for the people of Christchurch,” Seers said.

(c) 2008 Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.