Senior doctor to head independent health watchdog

A highly respected senior doctor will take over the reins as head of Queensland’s independent health watchdog, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said Cabinet had approved the appointment of Professor Michael Ward as Commissioner of the state’s Health Quality and Complaints Commission (HQCC).

Professor Ward is Emeritus Professor at the University of Queensland who qualified as a doctor at Kings College, London, in 1967 and trained as a gastroenterologist.

He has previously held positions as Director of Medicine and Director of Gastroenterology at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital; Professor and Head Central Clinical Division at the University of Queensland School of Medicine; Interim Program Director for the Queensland Health Skills Development Centre and Senior Director of Queensland Health Clinical Practice Improvement Centre.

“Professor Ward brings decades of clinical experience at the highest level to the role of commissioner of the HQCC,” Mr Robertson said.

“He also brings a reputation for excellence in his work to improve patient safety and the quality of health services through evidence-based clinical best practice in the health system.

“Professor Ward was one of the inaugural commissioners on the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare and chaired its information strategy committee.

“His ideas on engaging clinicians through clinical networks were incorporated in the Forster Report and were the foundation for Queensland Health’s policy in this area.

“I look forward to working closely with Professor Ward so that we can continue to deliver health services of the highest quality and standard for all Queenslanders.”

Mr Robertson paid tribute to Dr John Youngman for his services as the HQCC’s first commissioner.

“Dr Youngman was our inaugural commissioner and one of the architects behind the commission itself.

“Dr Youngman’s reputation in the field of quality and safety in healthcare provided a solid foundation for the establishment of the HQCC.”

“He also brought great expertise and energy to steering the HQCC through its first 18 months of operation.

“Through Dr Youngman’s vision, the first seven standards of the HQCC were released in mid 2007.”

“I thank him for his commitment to the job and wish him well for the future.”

Mr Robertson also announced two other appointments to the eight-member HQCC board.

Professor Michele Clark, professor of Rehabilitation Sciences and Head, Department of Occupational Therapy at James Cook University, will join the board as an Assistant Commissioner in the field of allied health.

Mr Rodney Metcalfe, formerly Deputy Queensland Ombudsman, joins the HQCC as an Assistant Commissioner with expertise in the complaints management area of the commission.

Professor Ward and the two new assistant commissioners will take up their roles from 1 January 2008.

Mr Robertson said the Health Quality and Complaints Commission was established by the Queensland Government in 2006 as an independent watchdog for the health system.

“The role of the Commission is to assure Queenslanders that the quality of both public and private health services in Queensland is of the highest possible standard.

“It is also responsible for investigating complaints from the public and anyone associated with health service delivery, including Queensland Health staff.

“This commission marks a new era in public accountability and transparency regarding the performance of Queensland’s health system,” he said

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