HEALTH MINISTER VOWS TO MAINTAIN THE PACE OF REFORM
Published Thursday, 13 September, 2007 at 01:12 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Improving the quality and safety of public health services remains the key focus of the Queensland Government’s $10 billion Health Action Plan, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
“Its’ nearly two years since we launched our action plan for reform and renewal of the public health system with the biggest funding injection in Queensland history,” he said.
“We’ve made significant progress to date in improving the quality and safety of the health system.
“Queensland Health has been totally restructured and our work has reached the point where the benefits of reform are generating their own momentum.
“But there’s still a lot of work to be done.
“As Health Minister, I will keep driving the improvements and innovations necessary to ensure we meet the challenges faced by health systems around the world in the 21st Century.”
Mr Robertson said clinicians will continue to play the key role in ensuring Queensland’s health system meets these challenges.
“As the population grows and ages, and as more people develop chronic disease, there will be an ever-increasing demand for safe and sustainable public health services.
“Increased demand means we need more staff because our public hospitals are busier than ever before and treating more patients than ever before.
“We’ve already employed additional health professionals including an extra 1,049 doctors, another 3,460 nurses and 1,213 more allied health professionals.
“More than 550 extra hospital beds have been opened since July 2005 and we’re on track to commission more than 2,500 additional beds between now and 2016, at a cost of $3.6 billion.
“And we have a massive capital works program underway to build new hospitals and upgrade hospitals and emergency departments throughout the State.”
Mr Robertson said continuing improvements to the quality, safety and sustainability of health services, in partnership with clinicians and other service providers, remains a key goal of the Health Action Plan.
“By establishing the independent Health Quality and Complaints Commission, implementing new processes for reporting and managing clinical errors and improving patient safety, Queensland is now leading the nation in some clinical areas.
“Clinicians have led many recent improvements in quality and safety of our services.
“Through their clinical networks and with support from the Clinical Practice Improvement Centre, clinicians have demonstrated real leadership in reforming and improving health service delivery.
“We will continue to strengthen the role of clinicians – nursing, medical and allied health – in leading the reform of the public health system.”
Mr Robertson said a sustainable health system is about more than just hospitals and beds.
“It’s also about encouraging Queenslanders to adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce their risk of preventable chronic disease and need for acute hospital services.
“In meeting the challenges ahead, Queensland Health will increase its focus on disease prevention, better management of chronic diseases, and provision of primary health care services in the community.
“Improving mental health services also remains an important priority under the Health Action Plan.
“We’re investing an additional $528 million over four years to employ more community mental health staff; improve mental health infrastructure and bed capacity, and provide stronger support for community-based mental health services,” he said.
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