Winners of 2016 Queensland Health Awards for Excellence

The team that developed Australia’s first Integrated Specialist Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service at Logan Hospital has won the Minister’s Award for Outstanding Achievement at the 2016 Queensland Health and Department of Health Awards for Excellence.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services Cameron Dick congratulated the team at the awards ceremony last night, as well as all other entrants and finalists.

“The awards recognise initiatives, teams and individuals across the Department of Health, each Health and Hospital Service, and Queensland Ambulance Service who have gone above and beyond to ensure world-class healthcare is available for all Queenslanders,” he said.

“The commitment of Queensland Health staff to challenge the status quo and to seize upon opportunities to improve and innovate is commendable.”

“Many of the successes recognised this year have been achieved in addition to, or as an extension of people’s ‘day jobs’.”

Mr Dick said Logan Hospital found a multidisciplinary solution to reduce the long wait list for ENT outpatient services, which showed incredible fortitude, innovation, dedication and a very strong commitment to the health and wellbeing of their patients.

“The medical, audiology, speech pathology and vestibular physiotherapy specialists at Logan Hospital joined forces to develop the Integrated Specialist ENT Service,” he said.

“To date, this service has reduced the ENT outpatient long wait list by 90 per cent, and it is expected to completely eliminate the wait list by the end of 2016.

“The new Service has also established Australia’s first GP training program, designed to upskill local GPs so patients can access diagnosis and treatment for less complex ENT conditions in the community.

“This new approach to providing specialist outpatient services demonstrates yet another way our health system works continually to improve access to quality and safe healthcare to Queenslanders.

“I am absolutely delighted that the team responsible for developing the Integrated Specialist ENT Service has received the Minister’s Award for Outstanding Achievement.”

Mr Dick said finalists for the 2016 awards represented health services from the Gold Coast in the south-east, to the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service in the north and the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service in the west.

“This desire for excellence stretches from the department to the frontline, and from our ‘ambos’ to the rural and remote communities we serve across Queensland,” he said.

A full list of winners for the 2016 Queensland Health and Department of Health Awards for Excellence is detailed below.

Winners – 2016 Queensland Health Awards for Excellence

Minister’s Award for Outstanding Achievement:

Reducing the long wait for Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) outpatient services, Logan Hospital, Metro South Hospital and Health Service

Promoting Wellbeing:

Immunise to 95, Department of Health

Delivering Healthcare – Joint winners:

Princess Alexandra Hospital: Transformation to a digital hospital, Metro South Hospital and Health Service; and

Specialist Outpatient Strategy: Improving the Patient Journey 2020, Department of Health

Connecting Healthcare – Joint winners:

Connected Care Program, Children’s Health Queensland

Patient Access Coordination Hub, Metro North Hospital and Health Service

Pursuing Innovation:

Eye-gaze technology—Access Independence, Children’s Health Queensland

Winners - 2016 Department of Health Awards for Excellence

Connectedness:

The inaugural eHealth Queensland Expo 2016: eHealth Queensland

Performance – Joint winners:

Health and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016: Strategy, Policy and Planning Division

Review of the HHS Funding Model, Service Agreement and Performance Framework: Healthcare Purchasing and System Performance Division

Clarity:

My health, Queensland’s future: Advancing health 2026: Strategy, Policy and Planning Division

Respect:

Occupational Violence Taskforce and Campaign: Queensland Ambulance Service and Department of Health

Capability:

Learn2Lead Junior Doctors Leadership Development Program: Clinical Excellence Division