Nominations called for appointments to new Health Community Councils

Members of local communities are invited to nominate to serve on 37 new Health Community Councils being established across Queensland, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

“These new advisory bodies will replace existing district health councils and give communities a more direct say over the performance and quality of local health services,” he said.

“Strengthened community input through the new Health Community Councils will help to ensure that health services are highly responsive to their local communities.

‘The principal role of these community-based advisory bodies will be to focus on quality and safety of health services (including consumer complaints), community and consumer engagement, as well as community education in relation to the health system.

“Suitably qualified people wishing to serve on their local Health Community Council can contact the independent health watchdog, the Health Quality and Complaints Commission (HQCC),” he said.

Mr Robertson said the creation of Health Community Councils was in line with the Queensland Health Systems Review recommendation to improve the capacity for community involvement in the decision-making process by revising the role and functions of the existing District Health Councils.

The Forster Review also recommended that the process for nominating members of these councils be performed by an independent body rather than Queensland Health.

“Under the Health Quality and Complaints Commission Act 2006, the HQCC is responsible for making recommendations to me for appointments to each local Health Community Council.

“I expect recommendations will be provided to me in April 2007 with the intention of finalising all appointments by 1 July 2007.”

Health Community Councils will be established in the following locations:

“Membership of a council will include up to eight members, and, wherever possible, at least one member will be a local general practitioner,” Mr Robertson said.

“A council will not have more than one member who is engaged in the delivery of public sector health services in the council’s Health Service District.

“Appointments will be for a period of up to four years and each Council will meet at least once every two months.”

The new Councils will be established under the Health Services Act 1991.

The closing date for nominations is 12 February 2007.

For further information or for an application package, visit the HQCC website at: http://www.hqcc.qld.gov.au/home/inner.asp?pageID=53&snav=0 or phone toll free: 1800 077 308.

MEDIA:  PAUL LYNCH  3234 1190