Wellington, Sept 29 NZPA - The District Health Boards of New Zealand (DHBNZ) support the establishment of a National Health Board (NHB) and wanted its role to be expanded from that recommended in the review of the health system.

The NHB was one of 170 recommendations in a report commissioned by the Government in January.

The report and its recommendations met with mixed reaction and Health Minister Tony Ryall was quick to say the Government was not obliged to follow any of them.

Today, Mr Ryall released the hundreds of submissions received about the report.

All the feedback would be carefully considered and the Government was concerned with reducing bureaucracy, he said.

"If it doesn't reduce bureaucracy or improve health services, we won't do it."

DHBNZ said a NHB offered "significant value".

The majority of DHBs support a NHB having responsibility for funding and monitoring.

"A small number of DHBs believe that the funding and monitoring role should not rest with the NHB, noting that this role may divert NHB attention from its other important roles, or undermine DHB accountability to the minister," the submission said.

DHBNZ said a NHB should include tertiary services and above and there must be a legislative requirement for it to build effective relationships and to collaborate with DHBs.

"DHBs expect that the NHB would operate an enhanced version of the current sector collaboration and networking model."

The New Zealand Medical Association said it supported the principle of a NHB but had reservations about "the ability to make savings in resources and personnel given the continuing existence of the 21 DHBs".

Association of Salaried Medical Specialist executive director Ian Powell said establishing a NHB "risks increasing bureaucracy, time wastage and generating paralysis in decision-making".

The leadership functions outlined in the report were good but it was not necessary to create more bureaucracy to achieve them, he said.

The Government was receiving advice of the proposals and expected to consider that for the "next few weeks", Mr Ryall said.