DISTRICT RESTRUCTURE TO DELIVER BETTER HEALTH SERVICES
Published Friday, 22 September, 2006 at 11:30 AM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Health Minister Stephen Robertson today announced changes to the structure of Queensland Health designed to meet the challenges of increasing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer in the community.
The changes to Queensland Health’s structure will mean a leaner bureaucracy, better administrative support for clinicians and closer partnerships with general practitioners.
“New reforms centre on the progressive consolidation of Queensland’s health service districts from 37 to 20 by the end of June next year to complement the boundaries of Queensland’s Divisions of General Practice,” Mr Robertson said.
“Over the past 12 months, Queensland Health’s head office has undergone a massive restructure based on recommendations arising out of two independent health inquiries.
“We are now going a step further by cutting the number of health districts which will see Queensland Health’s 371 facilities working closer together in a tighter administrative and clinical network.”
“This announcement builds on the decision last week to transfer some Queensland Health services to the Department of Communities, Disability Services, Seniors and Youth.
“Both measures are about driving Queensland Health to focus on its core services, implement the $9.7 billion Action Plan and tackle the increasing burden of chronic disease in our community by developing closer relationships with the GP sector.
“In the new Queensland Health, we’ve found the current number of 37 districts has impeded our ability to coordinate resources to deliver the best possible health service for all Queenslanders.
“This restructure is about breaking down those barriers.”
The consolidation of districts will improve the delivery of health services by:
• providing a better platform for Queensland Health to work with General Practitioners on health promotion and primary prevention in the community. The new district boundaries have been designed to be as consistent as possible with General Practice Division boundaries;
• creating larger districts to consolidate health services and better integrate rural and regional health clusters, for example by improving links within districts between small communities and larger hospitals; and
• consolidating Queensland Health’s corporate support services to more effectively support doctors, nurses and allied health workers. The staged process will be rolled out in conjunction with a full review of corporate services which will identify inefficiencies and recommend measures to better support hospitals and clinicians.
“The restructure will occur in stages between now and June next year and has not been designed to save money or reduce the number of Queensland Health employees.
“Rather, it’s about reshaping a massive organisation that is more responsive to emerging challenges and building districts with more resources to solve problems and attract talented and experienced clinicians.
“The Northern Area will have six districts instead of its current 11, the Central Area will have eight instead of 14 and the Southern Area will have six instead of 12.
“We will have nearly half the number of district managers. However, there are currently only 28 contracted district managers anyway with staff acting in nine vacancies.”
“All permanent employees will have positions when this process is completed.”
Mr Robertson said while districts are being consolidated, the Health Services Act 1991 will be amended to more fully set out Queensland Health’s organisational structure and relationships.
“The proposed amendments to the Act will also establish new entities, called Health Community Councils, to replace district health councils,” he said.
“However, we will retain at least the same number of councils and ensure they have a pivotal role in improving the performance of our hospitals and other services.
“Health Community Councils will have a clear agenda to focus on quality and safety issues, consumer complaints management and consumer engagement and education.
“They will also receive greater administrative and operational support and training from Queensland Health and the soon-to-be-established statewide Consumer Health Council.
“Membership of these new councils will be determined later this year and a forum of all existing councils will be held soon to brief them face-to-face about our new direction.
“However, the Health Quality and Complaints Commission will retain its new role in nominating members of the Councils.”
Mr Robertson said consolidating district health services was a huge task due to the current number of districts and the number of employees likely to be affected.
“To minimise the impact of the change on employees, implementing the new district boundaries will be pursued progressively over the next nine months,” he said.
“The process will involve close consultation with employees, health unions and other stakeholders.”
22 September 2006
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185 or 0409 069 056
ATTACHMENT
The changes to Queensland Health’s structure will mean a leaner bureaucracy, better administrative support for clinicians and closer partnerships with general practitioners.
“New reforms centre on the progressive consolidation of Queensland’s health service districts from 37 to 20 by the end of June next year to complement the boundaries of Queensland’s Divisions of General Practice,” Mr Robertson said.
“Over the past 12 months, Queensland Health’s head office has undergone a massive restructure based on recommendations arising out of two independent health inquiries.
“We are now going a step further by cutting the number of health districts which will see Queensland Health’s 371 facilities working closer together in a tighter administrative and clinical network.”
“This announcement builds on the decision last week to transfer some Queensland Health services to the Department of Communities, Disability Services, Seniors and Youth.
“Both measures are about driving Queensland Health to focus on its core services, implement the $9.7 billion Action Plan and tackle the increasing burden of chronic disease in our community by developing closer relationships with the GP sector.
“In the new Queensland Health, we’ve found the current number of 37 districts has impeded our ability to coordinate resources to deliver the best possible health service for all Queenslanders.
“This restructure is about breaking down those barriers.”
The consolidation of districts will improve the delivery of health services by:
• providing a better platform for Queensland Health to work with General Practitioners on health promotion and primary prevention in the community. The new district boundaries have been designed to be as consistent as possible with General Practice Division boundaries;
• creating larger districts to consolidate health services and better integrate rural and regional health clusters, for example by improving links within districts between small communities and larger hospitals; and
• consolidating Queensland Health’s corporate support services to more effectively support doctors, nurses and allied health workers. The staged process will be rolled out in conjunction with a full review of corporate services which will identify inefficiencies and recommend measures to better support hospitals and clinicians.
“The restructure will occur in stages between now and June next year and has not been designed to save money or reduce the number of Queensland Health employees.
“Rather, it’s about reshaping a massive organisation that is more responsive to emerging challenges and building districts with more resources to solve problems and attract talented and experienced clinicians.
“The Northern Area will have six districts instead of its current 11, the Central Area will have eight instead of 14 and the Southern Area will have six instead of 12.
“We will have nearly half the number of district managers. However, there are currently only 28 contracted district managers anyway with staff acting in nine vacancies.”
“All permanent employees will have positions when this process is completed.”
Mr Robertson said while districts are being consolidated, the Health Services Act 1991 will be amended to more fully set out Queensland Health’s organisational structure and relationships.
“The proposed amendments to the Act will also establish new entities, called Health Community Councils, to replace district health councils,” he said.
“However, we will retain at least the same number of councils and ensure they have a pivotal role in improving the performance of our hospitals and other services.
“Health Community Councils will have a clear agenda to focus on quality and safety issues, consumer complaints management and consumer engagement and education.
“They will also receive greater administrative and operational support and training from Queensland Health and the soon-to-be-established statewide Consumer Health Council.
“Membership of these new councils will be determined later this year and a forum of all existing councils will be held soon to brief them face-to-face about our new direction.
“However, the Health Quality and Complaints Commission will retain its new role in nominating members of the Councils.”
Mr Robertson said consolidating district health services was a huge task due to the current number of districts and the number of employees likely to be affected.
“To minimise the impact of the change on employees, implementing the new district boundaries will be pursued progressively over the next nine months,” he said.
“The process will involve close consultation with employees, health unions and other stakeholders.”
22 September 2006
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185 or 0409 069 056
ATTACHMENT
Consolidation of District Health Services
|
Area Health Services |
New Health Service Districts |
Former Health Service Districts |
|
Northern Area |
Cairns and Hinterland |
Cairns Tablelands Innisfail |
|
Cape York (includes Cooktown) |
Cape York | |
|
Torres Strait |
Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula | |
|
Townsville |
Townsville Bowen ChartersTowers | |
|
Mt Isa (includes Hughenden and Richmond) |
Mt Isa | |
|
Mackay Health |
Mackay Moranbah | |
|
Central Area |
Central Queensland |
Rockhampton Gladstone Central Highlands Banana |
|
Central West |
Central West | |
|
WideBay |
Bundaberg North Burnett | |
|
FraserCoast |
FraserCoast | |
|
SunshineCoast |
SunshineCoast Gympie | |
|
Brisbane North |
The PrinceCharlesHospital Redcliffe – Caboolture | |
|
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital |
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital | |
|
Royal Children’s Hospital |
Royal Children’s Hospital | |
|
Southern Area |
PrincessAlexandraHospital |
PrincessAlexandraHospital |
|
Brisbane South |
QEIIHospital Bayside Logan-Beaudesert | |
|
West Moreton |
West Moreton South Burnett | |
|
Gold Coast |
Gold Coast | |
|
Toowoomba and Darling Downs |
Toowoomba Northern Downs Southern Downs | |
|
South West |
Roma Charleville |