Socrates is just bedazzled by the technology of the modern era! Put somebody's name into a wax tablet search engine and it comes up with all sorts of fascinating information.
For example, Socrates found that the tablets have shown that the background of the SSWAHS Director of Corporate Services (and likely to be the CEO of the Local Health Network) is set in the honourable profession of pill-rolling (Pharmacy). To give her full titles she is a Bachelor of Pharmacy, Master of Public Health, and Master of Business Administration, as well as being a member of AFAIM. While not one for being a people person perhaps all those academic qualifications do give some insight into why she is such a micro-manager of an organisation such as SSWAHS.
In fact, the Director of Corporate Services for SSWAHS appears to outshine (academically, at least) her boss, the SSWAHS CEO . The CEO appears to be the underachiever of the two with only a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science with a predilection to sociology.
Ah well! I can see that all of the natives of the Southern Highlands will be jumping for joy at that fact that they have been, and will be, competently managed by a pharmacist and a sociologist.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
SSWAHS and its response to complaints from the Southern Highlands: Part 2
Socrates, you might recall, posted a copy of the following email sent by a very rebellious native of the Southern Highlands, who had been waiting (and staying alive) diligently to be able to obtain a report into a series of complaints that the Health Care Complaints Commission and the Ombudsman's office thought should dealt with by the Sydney South West Area Health Service. The email is explanatory enough, one would think, and although it might be considered to be a bit tart in its consumption, is most likely appropriate given that the complainant has been waiting 11 months for the offered response, even though the investigator has never bothered to even speak with the complainant.
Today Socrates was informed that Mr Slade has been on holidays for a month (back next week), but the source at SSWAHS says that all his emails had been forwarded to Dr Bellamy, his boss, during his absence. Now that name did ring a temple bell or two in the mind of Socrates! Ah, yes!
That's the same Dr Bellamy that the tabloids in Sydney (and referred to in an earlier post), had much to say about some of her clinical practices, and who the SSWAHS Executive were so happy to appoint to the position of Director of Clinical Governance in SSWAHS. My, how the temple pool has become so cloudy up at Liverpool.
Mr Graeme Slade
Designated Senior Complaints Officer
SSWAHS
Dear Mr Slade
I have your letters addressed to me and dated 18th and 19th November 2009 in which I am assured by you that the matters about which I "complained were being, and would be, investigated and a written response would be provided to me upon completion of the investigation."
I write to inform you that I have not yet received a written response to my complaints, nor have you even made any form of contact with me, the complainant.
Mr Slade I find it surprising that this has not happened given that in the NSW Health Code of Conduct there is specific mention that complaints such as mine (or indeed from any complainant) should be dealt with in a timely manner.
I also draw your attention to the SSWAHS Policy Directive: Complaints: Management of a Complaint or Concern about a Clinician - Document No: SSW_PD2007_035, which describes the procedures to be followed in the matter of all complaints received by the SSWAHS oganisation, and in particular, the role of the Designated Senior Complaints Officer.
I can assure you that as I was not anonymous in my complaints nor did I consider them to be frivolous in nature I did anticipate that there would be some action and some response as you had stated.
The fact that there has been no apparent action or response leads me to believe that SSWAHS is failing in its adherence to both the NSW Health Code of Conduct and its own Policy as stated above.
The alternative may be, however, that you, Mr Slade, have died, been terminated, or simply decided to part company with SSWAHS. Perhaps, if you are neither dead, nor been terminated, but still work for SSWAHS you might consider responding to this email. For myself I can assure you that I am not dead, and I still want to have a written response to those several complaints.
Yours sincerely,
......................................
Today Socrates was informed that Mr Slade has been on holidays for a month (back next week), but the source at SSWAHS says that all his emails had been forwarded to Dr Bellamy, his boss, during his absence. Now that name did ring a temple bell or two in the mind of Socrates! Ah, yes!
That's the same Dr Bellamy that the tabloids in Sydney (and referred to in an earlier post), had much to say about some of her clinical practices, and who the SSWAHS Executive were so happy to appoint to the position of Director of Clinical Governance in SSWAHS. My, how the temple pool has become so cloudy up at Liverpool.
Mr Graeme Slade
Designated Senior Complaints Officer
SSWAHS
Dear Mr Slade
I have your letters addressed to me and dated 18th and 19th November 2009 in which I am assured by you that the matters about which I "complained were being, and would be, investigated and a written response would be provided to me upon completion of the investigation."
I write to inform you that I have not yet received a written response to my complaints, nor have you even made any form of contact with me, the complainant.
Mr Slade I find it surprising that this has not happened given that in the NSW Health Code of Conduct there is specific mention that complaints such as mine (or indeed from any complainant) should be dealt with in a timely manner.
I also draw your attention to the SSWAHS Policy Directive: Complaints: Management of a Complaint or Concern about a Clinician - Document No: SSW_PD2007_035, which describes the procedures to be followed in the matter of all complaints received by the SSWAHS oganisation, and in particular, the role of the Designated Senior Complaints Officer.
I can assure you that as I was not anonymous in my complaints nor did I consider them to be frivolous in nature I did anticipate that there would be some action and some response as you had stated.
The fact that there has been no apparent action or response leads me to believe that SSWAHS is failing in its adherence to both the NSW Health Code of Conduct and its own Policy as stated above.
The alternative may be, however, that you, Mr Slade, have died, been terminated, or simply decided to part company with SSWAHS. Perhaps, if you are neither dead, nor been terminated, but still work for SSWAHS you might consider responding to this email. For myself I can assure you that I am not dead, and I still want to have a written response to those several complaints.
Yours sincerely,
......................................
SSWAHS and its Professional Staff retention: It must be taking training from Texas
September 21, 2009
Two Texas Nurses Arrested Over Shady Physician Practice Report
Posted by Tye under Ethics, Medicine | Tags: Austin American Statesman, herbal medecine, Kermit, prosecution, Science Based Medicine, standard of care, Texas, Texas Medical Board, Texas Nurses Association |
This weekend I was reading about how two nurses from Kermit, Texas were indicted with a third-degree felony for “misuse of official information.” The real charge should be “victim of a witch-hunt” as these two nurses did nothing but hold up the Nurse’s Code of Ethics.
A physician at their hospital was encouraging patients to purchase dubious herbal “medicines” that he happened to profit from because he was the seller. They also thought it was improper that the physician tried to steal materials from the hospital to test patients at their home (the hospital administrators stopped this before it happened). Once the physician found out a complaint had been launched against him he filed a harassment charge to the Winkler County Sheriff’s Department. Through what may have been the most thorough investigation in the history of the county’s sheriff’s department the two nurses were identified and charged with a crime that could result in 2-10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
The Texas Nurses Association has created a legal defense fund in support of the two women and the Texas Medical Board has written a letter to the attorneys detailing the impropriety of prosecuting the nurses. From what I’ve read the trial should be happening this month but I can’t find much information about it.
There have been some excellent state commentaries on this situation as well as national coverage on the well read medical blog “Science Based Medicine”. Here are some of my favorite excerpts from the reports.
From the Austin American Statesmen:
The Texas Medical Board sent a letter to the attorneys stating that it is improper to criminally prosecute people for raising complaints with the board; that the complaints were confidential and not subject to subpoena; that the board is exempt from federal HIPAA law; and that, on the contrary, the board depends on reporting from health care professionals to carry out its duty of protecting the public from improper practitioners.
This situation shouldn’t happen anywhere, but it especially shouldn’t happen in Texas, which hassome of the toughest whistle-blower and patient advocacy protections for nurses in the nation, thanks to the leadership of Texas Nurses Association.
ADVANCE for Nurses:
Jim Willman, general counsel/director of government affairs for TNA, cited a Texas case in 1983, Lunsford v. Board of Nurse Examiners, 648 S.W.2d 391, 395 (Tex.Civ.App. 1983), where the court held that “[a] license to provide medical services is a covenant to serve the people.” The judgment determined “nurses have a duty to act in the best interest of their patients, and . this duty is not superseded by hospital policies,” explained Willman.
TNA fears the legal precedent the nurses’ indictment sets. The message it sends to nurses and other healthcare practitioners will have adverse affects on the health and safety of patients, Willman added.
“The two nurses had concerns about whether a physician was practicing below the accepted standard of care and reported those concerns to the TMB,” he said. “The NPA recognizes their right to report and their duty to patients requires them to do so. The criminal indictment cannot help but discourage other nurses from reporting a physician, another nurse or a hospital for unsafe patient care.”
The TMB also objected to the criminal prosecution of the nurses, and sent a letter to the Winkler County district attorneys stating the nurses’ complaint was allowed under state and federal law. The board argued “it is improper to criminally prosecute people for raising complaints with the TMB.” It also noted since the complaints were confidential they were not subject to subpoena and that “under federal law TMB is exempt from HIPAA requirements.”
“In my 8 years with the board, I have never seen a complainant charged with a felony for making a complaint to the board,” said Mari Robertson, JD, TMB executive director. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a criminal prosecution for providing information to the medical board.”
And from SBM:
This case is bad. Real bad. Nurses and other health care professionals are reluctant enough as it is to report a bad doctor or a doctor peddling dubious therapies as it is. What makes this case particularly outrageous is not only because it appears to be a horrible abuse of power by Sheriff Roberts, but, even worse, it sends the clear and unmistakable message to nurses in Texas: Don’t get out of line or the medical powers that be will make you pay. They will find out who you are, no matter what it takes to do so, and then they will do everything in their power to retaliate. They’ll even try to throw you in jail if they can figure out a rationale to do so, legal or not.
Two Texas Nurses Arrested Over Shady Physician Practice Report
Posted by Tye under Ethics, Medicine | Tags: Austin American Statesman, herbal medecine, Kermit, prosecution, Science Based Medicine, standard of care, Texas, Texas Medical Board, Texas Nurses Association |
This weekend I was reading about how two nurses from Kermit, Texas were indicted with a third-degree felony for “misuse of official information.” The real charge should be “victim of a witch-hunt” as these two nurses did nothing but hold up the Nurse’s Code of Ethics.
A physician at their hospital was encouraging patients to purchase dubious herbal “medicines” that he happened to profit from because he was the seller. They also thought it was improper that the physician tried to steal materials from the hospital to test patients at their home (the hospital administrators stopped this before it happened). Once the physician found out a complaint had been launched against him he filed a harassment charge to the Winkler County Sheriff’s Department. Through what may have been the most thorough investigation in the history of the county’s sheriff’s department the two nurses were identified and charged with a crime that could result in 2-10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
The Texas Nurses Association has created a legal defense fund in support of the two women and the Texas Medical Board has written a letter to the attorneys detailing the impropriety of prosecuting the nurses. From what I’ve read the trial should be happening this month but I can’t find much information about it.
There have been some excellent state commentaries on this situation as well as national coverage on the well read medical blog “Science Based Medicine”. Here are some of my favorite excerpts from the reports.
From the Austin American Statesmen:
The Texas Medical Board sent a letter to the attorneys stating that it is improper to criminally prosecute people for raising complaints with the board; that the complaints were confidential and not subject to subpoena; that the board is exempt from federal HIPAA law; and that, on the contrary, the board depends on reporting from health care professionals to carry out its duty of protecting the public from improper practitioners.
This situation shouldn’t happen anywhere, but it especially shouldn’t happen in Texas, which hassome of the toughest whistle-blower and patient advocacy protections for nurses in the nation, thanks to the leadership of Texas Nurses Association.
ADVANCE for Nurses:
Jim Willman, general counsel/director of government affairs for TNA, cited a Texas case in 1983, Lunsford v. Board of Nurse Examiners, 648 S.W.2d 391, 395 (Tex.Civ.App. 1983), where the court held that “[a] license to provide medical services is a covenant to serve the people.” The judgment determined “nurses have a duty to act in the best interest of their patients, and . this duty is not superseded by hospital policies,” explained Willman.
TNA fears the legal precedent the nurses’ indictment sets. The message it sends to nurses and other healthcare practitioners will have adverse affects on the health and safety of patients, Willman added.
“The two nurses had concerns about whether a physician was practicing below the accepted standard of care and reported those concerns to the TMB,” he said. “The NPA recognizes their right to report and their duty to patients requires them to do so. The criminal indictment cannot help but discourage other nurses from reporting a physician, another nurse or a hospital for unsafe patient care.”
The TMB also objected to the criminal prosecution of the nurses, and sent a letter to the Winkler County district attorneys stating the nurses’ complaint was allowed under state and federal law. The board argued “it is improper to criminally prosecute people for raising complaints with the TMB.” It also noted since the complaints were confidential they were not subject to subpoena and that “under federal law TMB is exempt from HIPAA requirements.”
“In my 8 years with the board, I have never seen a complainant charged with a felony for making a complaint to the board,” said Mari Robertson, JD, TMB executive director. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a criminal prosecution for providing information to the medical board.”
And from SBM:
This case is bad. Real bad. Nurses and other health care professionals are reluctant enough as it is to report a bad doctor or a doctor peddling dubious therapies as it is. What makes this case particularly outrageous is not only because it appears to be a horrible abuse of power by Sheriff Roberts, but, even worse, it sends the clear and unmistakable message to nurses in Texas: Don’t get out of line or the medical powers that be will make you pay. They will find out who you are, no matter what it takes to do so, and then they will do everything in their power to retaliate. They’ll even try to throw you in jail if they can figure out a rationale to do so, legal or not.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
SSWAHS and its idea of its OH&S responsibilities.
Socrates found this article in an archived version of "The Lamp"which is the official Journal of the NSW Nurses Association.
Addressing risks for community-based mental health nurses
Lamp, The, July, 2009 by Kevin O’Neill
I was delighted to see that Melbourne’s St Vincent’s Hospital has considered the risks experienced by their community-based mental health nurse equal to, or sometimes even
greater than, those faced by their in-patient unit colleagues. I think expenditure of $9,000
to kit out home visiting staff with the ‘panic button phones’ (p8, The Lamp, May issue) shows that at least St Vincent’s is taking their risk management seriously.
About three years ago I worked with a supplier of duress alarms to mental health in-patient units in Sydney South West AHS (SSWAHS) to develop a mobile duress unit similar to the principle now adopted by the St Vincent’s Mental Health Services. The device the manufacturer came up with consisted of a portable, car-based unit containing a GPS unit and a mobile phone that acted as a transmitter.
The mental health worker carried the standard duress alarm commonly used within in-patient units. When activated, it sent a duress signal to the transmitter located in the work vehicle, which in turn sent the signal as a recorded message to a receiving mobile phone and computer at the worker’s home base. The GPS allowed the placement of the work vehicle to be identified and sent to the receiving mobile phone along with the emergency message.
The beauty of this system was the alarm could be raised silently by the push of a button, and if the staff member was knocked down, or the unit was pulled from the worker’s belt or clothing, it would be activated automatically.
To test the unit in our rural area, I spent the better part of a Sunday travelling all over the Southern Highlands activating the unit for an assessment of its effectiveness. Wherever there was a signal from a mobile phone tower, the GPS report and an emergency message was received.
When I asked for funding for a trial project of the duress alarm it was refused by SSWAHS. I was informed that the Area Health Service (Ms Jan Whalan) opposed the trial on the basis that if it worked, all community-based nurses would want them. It seems that Melbourne, at least, values
their responsibility to provide a safe work environment with something more practical than just words in a policy.
Kevin O’Neill, RN, Wingecarribee Community Health
Addressing risks for community-based mental health nurses
Lamp, The, July, 2009 by Kevin O’Neill
I was delighted to see that Melbourne’s St Vincent’s Hospital has considered the risks experienced by their community-based mental health nurse equal to, or sometimes even
greater than, those faced by their in-patient unit colleagues. I think expenditure of $9,000
to kit out home visiting staff with the ‘panic button phones’ (p8, The Lamp, May issue) shows that at least St Vincent’s is taking their risk management seriously.
About three years ago I worked with a supplier of duress alarms to mental health in-patient units in Sydney South West AHS (SSWAHS) to develop a mobile duress unit similar to the principle now adopted by the St Vincent’s Mental Health Services. The device the manufacturer came up with consisted of a portable, car-based unit containing a GPS unit and a mobile phone that acted as a transmitter.
The mental health worker carried the standard duress alarm commonly used within in-patient units. When activated, it sent a duress signal to the transmitter located in the work vehicle, which in turn sent the signal as a recorded message to a receiving mobile phone and computer at the worker’s home base. The GPS allowed the placement of the work vehicle to be identified and sent to the receiving mobile phone along with the emergency message.
The beauty of this system was the alarm could be raised silently by the push of a button, and if the staff member was knocked down, or the unit was pulled from the worker’s belt or clothing, it would be activated automatically.
To test the unit in our rural area, I spent the better part of a Sunday travelling all over the Southern Highlands activating the unit for an assessment of its effectiveness. Wherever there was a signal from a mobile phone tower, the GPS report and an emergency message was received.
When I asked for funding for a trial project of the duress alarm it was refused by SSWAHS. I was informed that the Area Health Service (Ms Jan Whalan) opposed the trial on the basis that if it worked, all community-based nurses would want them. It seems that Melbourne, at least, values
their responsibility to provide a safe work environment with something more practical than just words in a policy.
Kevin O’Neill, RN, Wingecarribee Community Health
SSWAHS and Jan Whalan: Micro-management in action!
Socrates has acquired this little gem which demonstrates just how SSWAHS Executive like to keep a stranglehold (sorry, "finger") on the pulse of their whole organisation. This is an "out-of-office" response to an email sent in mid-2009 to Ms Jan Whalan, the Director of Corporate Services for SSWAHS and the Deputy CEO. It would not be unreasonable to suggest that with the change to the Local Area Health Networks, and the change to the current SSWAHS, Ms Whalan could very well be the new Chief Executive of the Liverpool to Bowral health service. May the Gods help us all!
From the email of Jan Whalan:
I will be on leave from 12 – 26 June 2009 (inclusive).
During this period, my emails will not be forwarded; and you should direct any enquiries to the following people:
- Accounts enquiries from suppliers/NSW Health – Candy Cheng
- Complaints management – Jacqui Clark or Belinda Woolley
- Contracts/Agreements – Belinda Woolley
- Corporate IIMS – Maria Kokkinakos
- Criminal Record Checks – Charlotte Roberts
- Data Security – Charlotte Roberts
- Discrimination cases – Belinda Woolley
- FOI Applications & questions – Belinda Woolley
- “Garling”/SCI/Caring Together enquiries – Maria Kokkinakos
- General enquiries – Erin Chadwick (to 19/6/09), then Peter Reisinger
- HRIS – Bernie Cotter
- HSS – Candy Cheng / Mark Scragg – for liaison with CE, as required
- Legal Issues – Belinda Woolley
- Payroll – Luisa Nobrega
- Privacy; Internal Reviews (FOI/Privacy) – Charlotte Roberts
- Records management – Charlotte Roberts
- Reporting Serious incidents/charges/convictions – Charlotte Roberts
- Risk Management/TMF/Insurance – Margy Halliday
- Tendering / Purchasing / Supply – Mark Scragg
- Terminations - Sign off prior to going to CE – Belinda Woolley
- Transport Services – Mark Sterrey
- WorkCover activity – Margy Halliday
Sue Cheadle can be contacted on 9515 9640; and Erin Chadwick (up to 19/6/09) and Peter Reisinger (after 19/6/09) can be contacted via the switchboard (9515 9600) for assistance.
From the email of Jan Whalan:
I will be on leave from 12 – 26 June 2009 (inclusive).
During this period, my emails will not be forwarded; and you should direct any enquiries to the following people:
- Accounts enquiries from suppliers/NSW Health – Candy Cheng
- Complaints management – Jacqui Clark or Belinda Woolley
- Contracts/Agreements – Belinda Woolley
- Corporate IIMS – Maria Kokkinakos
- Criminal Record Checks – Charlotte Roberts
- Data Security – Charlotte Roberts
- Discrimination cases – Belinda Woolley
- FOI Applications & questions – Belinda Woolley
- “Garling”/SCI/Caring Together enquiries – Maria Kokkinakos
- General enquiries – Erin Chadwick (to 19/6/09), then Peter Reisinger
- HRIS – Bernie Cotter
- HSS – Candy Cheng / Mark Scragg – for liaison with CE, as required
- Legal Issues – Belinda Woolley
- Payroll – Luisa Nobrega
- Privacy; Internal Reviews (FOI/Privacy) – Charlotte Roberts
- Records management – Charlotte Roberts
- Reporting Serious incidents/charges/convictions – Charlotte Roberts
- Risk Management/TMF/Insurance – Margy Halliday
- Tendering / Purchasing / Supply – Mark Scragg
- Terminations - Sign off prior to going to CE – Belinda Woolley
- Transport Services – Mark Sterrey
- WorkCover activity – Margy Halliday
Sue Cheadle can be contacted on 9515 9640; and Erin Chadwick (up to 19/6/09) and Peter Reisinger (after 19/6/09) can be contacted via the switchboard (9515 9600) for assistance.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
SSWAHS and its response to complaints from the Southern Highlands
Mr Graeme Slade
Designated Senior Complaints Officer
SSWAHS
Dear Mr Slade
I have your letters addressed to me and dated 18th and 19th November 2009 in which I am assured by you that the matters about which I "complained were being, and would be, investigated and a written response would be provided to me upon completion of the investigation."
I write to inform you that I have not yet received a written response to my complaints, nor have you even made any form of contact with me, the complainant.
Mr Slade I find it surprising that this has not happened given that in the NSW Health Code of Conduct there is specific mention that complaints such as mine (or indeed from any complainant) should be dealt with in a timely manner.
I also draw your attention to the SSWAHS Policy Directive: Complaints: Management of a Complaint or Concern about a Clinician - Document No: SSW_PD2007_035, which describes the procedures to be followed in the matter of all complaints received by the SSWAHS oganisation, and in particular, the role of the Designated Senior Complaints Officer.
I can assure you that as I was not anonymous in my complaints nor did I consider them to be frivolous in nature I did anticipate that there would be some action and some response as you had stated.
The fact that there has been no apparent action or response leads me to believe that SSWAHS is failing in its adherence to both the NSW Health Code of Conduct and its own Policy as stated above.
The alternative may be, however, that you, Mr Slade, have died, been terminated, or simply decided to part company with SSWAHS. Perhaps, if you are neither dead, nor been terminated, but still work for SSWAHS you might consider responding to this email. For myself I can assure you that I am not dead, and I still want to have a written response to those several complaints.
Yours sincerely,
......................................
Socrates was fortunate enough to be sent the above email from a member of the Southern Highlands community who has been following this blog and who has been waiting patiently for due process to be followed by SSWAHS. One has to ask the question - how long is long enough, and do investigations of complaints made to SSWAHS really need to take such a long, long time?
Of other note, of course is how does SSWAHS manage to investigate any complaint without even having anything like a simple conversation with a complainant? Surely, they do not rely on just the brief detail given in a written or verbal complaint to ensure that faults are rectified and that the quality of their services are improved.
In preceding posts, Socrates has given several examples of complaints being made directly to SSWAHS, and also through the advocacy and publication of those complaints in the Southern Highland News.
It could be an interesting exercise to see if any of those affected people or their families ever received anything like a written response from the SSWAHS Executive.
Designated Senior Complaints Officer
SSWAHS
Dear Mr Slade
I have your letters addressed to me and dated 18th and 19th November 2009 in which I am assured by you that the matters about which I "complained were being, and would be, investigated and a written response would be provided to me upon completion of the investigation."
I write to inform you that I have not yet received a written response to my complaints, nor have you even made any form of contact with me, the complainant.
Mr Slade I find it surprising that this has not happened given that in the NSW Health Code of Conduct there is specific mention that complaints such as mine (or indeed from any complainant) should be dealt with in a timely manner.
I also draw your attention to the SSWAHS Policy Directive: Complaints: Management of a Complaint or Concern about a Clinician - Document No: SSW_PD2007_035, which describes the procedures to be followed in the matter of all complaints received by the SSWAHS oganisation, and in particular, the role of the Designated Senior Complaints Officer.
I can assure you that as I was not anonymous in my complaints nor did I consider them to be frivolous in nature I did anticipate that there would be some action and some response as you had stated.
The fact that there has been no apparent action or response leads me to believe that SSWAHS is failing in its adherence to both the NSW Health Code of Conduct and its own Policy as stated above.
The alternative may be, however, that you, Mr Slade, have died, been terminated, or simply decided to part company with SSWAHS. Perhaps, if you are neither dead, nor been terminated, but still work for SSWAHS you might consider responding to this email. For myself I can assure you that I am not dead, and I still want to have a written response to those several complaints.
Yours sincerely,
......................................
Socrates was fortunate enough to be sent the above email from a member of the Southern Highlands community who has been following this blog and who has been waiting patiently for due process to be followed by SSWAHS. One has to ask the question - how long is long enough, and do investigations of complaints made to SSWAHS really need to take such a long, long time?
Of other note, of course is how does SSWAHS manage to investigate any complaint without even having anything like a simple conversation with a complainant? Surely, they do not rely on just the brief detail given in a written or verbal complaint to ensure that faults are rectified and that the quality of their services are improved.
In preceding posts, Socrates has given several examples of complaints being made directly to SSWAHS, and also through the advocacy and publication of those complaints in the Southern Highland News.
It could be an interesting exercise to see if any of those affected people or their families ever received anything like a written response from the SSWAHS Executive.
Another good news story that can't be taken by SSWAHS from the local Southern Highlands people.
A focus on mental health - and why we’re blue - MORGAN DOWNS - SHN - 11 Oct, 2010 09:36 AM
THE MOST rewarding aspect of working as a registered nurse at Bowral Community Health Centre is seeing consumers’ illnesses resolving.
THE MOST rewarding aspect of working as a registered nurse at Bowral Community Health Centre is seeing consumers’ illnesses resolving.
So says Kelly Mills, who takes pride knowing that she was part of her client’s journey with mental health.
“Work is different all the time, because everyone has their own story,” she said.
Ms Mills, along with senior clinical nurse Shane Schutz and service manager for mental health William Midson, spoke to the Southern Highland News specifically for Mental Health Month.
Run in conjunction with Beyond Blue’s Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month in October, it aims to raise awareness of mental health in communities.
Ms Mills’ career in mental health began while she was at university and gained experience working in the department.
“At first I was apprehensive, then I just loved it,” she said.
“I found that helping someone by working them through problems and especially liked early intervention with youth.”
She said it wasn’t until she began working at the Bowral Community Health Centre that she realised the extent of services available.
Mr Midson said that when people engaged in the health centre’s services they provided further information and advocacy for patients.
“It is difficult, but we help people to find a way through,” he said.
Mr Schutz – who has been working in the industry for 15 years – was able to see first-hand the stigma surrounding mental health gradually change.
“There is certainly still stigma and issues around mental illnesses and disabilities,” he said.
“But people accept them more now, particularly men.
“In the last 10 years, those stigmas have certainly reduced.”
Events such as Mental Health Month and Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month allow organisations, service providers and the community to create stronger partnerships.
Our masthead is blue this week to recognise mental health issues and mental health wellness."
Socrates says: Well done the Southern Highland News! You, at least know the value of quality local services for local people.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Is the hand that stirred the pot for Mr Ibrahim the hand of the SSWAHS Executive or the hand of the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice?
Medical centre project stalled - BEN MCCLELLAN - SHN - 11 Oct, 2010 09:30 AM
FIVE months after it was due to be completed and 18 months since the first sod was turned, the Gillian Health Centre at Moss Vale is still just a vacant block of land.
FIVE months after it was due to be completed and 18 months since the first sod was turned, the Gillian Health Centre at Moss Vale is still just a vacant block of land.
St Henri Group managing director Sam Ibrahim, the developer behind the $20 million project, said it was “recession proof” in April last year and told the News last month construction would now be started early next year.
He said “lots of little things” had delayed the project that would create 300 construction jobs, many of which would be sourced locally, Mr Ibrahim told the News at the centre’s launch last year.
The outcome of the Gateway development at the old Holden site next door, which Mr Ibrahim had an option on, had also put things on hold and was potentially a “conflicting development”.
Demolition on the site had been completed and Mr Ibrahim said he was waiting on a construction certificate.
The super clinic plan included 13 different services ranging from a 24-hour medical centre to physiotherapy and cosmetic surgery.
Mr Ibrahim lashed out at Wingecarribee Council’s planning department over a failed retail shopping centre at the Mazda car yard in Mittagong.
He said the council had “mucked him around” and the project was no longer commercially viable.
He said developers could be 100 per cent compliant with the council’s stipulations and still have projects turned down.
Mr Ibrahim also denied Theo Onisforou’s Intersection project in Station Street, Bowral, which could have a medical centre, would clash with the Gillian Centre.
He said the clinics would “complement each other” and the specialists at his centre would benefit from Mr Onisforou’s GP clinic.
“Bring it on,” he said.
Socrates says: Again, sometimes the things that go on behind the scenes are as cut throat in the Wingecarribee as they are in the big end of town when competitors make life difficult for those who oppose their respective developments. Was the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice a bit more than a little miffed by the success of Mr Ibrahim and the St Henri Group in securing their site in Moss Vale while the Division did not?
Southern Highlands Division of General Practice - Not-for-profit organisation or Property developer? Competitor - yes!
Medical Hub begins - BY BEN MCCLELLAN - SHN -10 Apr, 2009 01:52 PM
A NEW health super centre, with 13 different services, will be ready to roll in May next year after construction began on the Gillian Health Centre in Moss Vale on Monday.
Wingecarribee mayor Duncan Gair and Goulburn state MP Pru Goward were on hand to turn the first bit of soil at the $20 million St Henri Property Group development on Argyle Street.
St Henri Group managing director Sam Ibrahim said the centre would be a "one-stop" shop for medical services and Highlands's residents wouldn't have to travel to Wollongong or Sydney for specialist treatments.
Ms Goward said she welcomed the centre and the involvement of Wollongong University.
"The provision of medical, nursing and allied health training in the Southern Highlands is great for our young people. It means they can live and study in the Highlands," she said.
Ms Goward said the significant investment represents a vote of confidence in the economy of the Highlands.
"The Gillian Health Centre will move the emphasis from acute care to early intervention which is not only better value for the tax payer but also for the patient's quality of life," Ms Goward said.
"The Gillian Health Centre is a very special project for the Southern Highlands and is well supported by Council and the community," Cr Gair said.
The mayor said the centre had long-term benefits for the community and the facility was long overdue. He said the St Henri Group had shown great faith in pursuing the project and had worked well to overcome a few last minute traffic issues with the RTA.
He added that approval for the development was unique as it was one of the very few times he had experienced a unanimous vote in support of a DA.
Also participating in the ceremony was Professor Don Iverson, executive dean, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Wollongong. Professor Iverson spoke of the University's interest in the centre as a hub for training.
"Over the past two years, the potential for the Southern Highlands to provide the University of Wollongong with a training hub for health professionals has become obvious. The facilities and services that will be provided by the Gillian Health Centre will create opportunities for training medical, nursing, exercise science and rehabilitation, nutrition/dietetics and clinical psychology students."
The groundbreaking of the centre was the culmination of three years of economic and social impact studies, planning and design. The Gillian Health Centre is the first of a number of such centres to be built in NSW by the St Henri Group.
Mr Ibrahim said the four and half story development would see 300 construction jobs created and the Southern Highlands based development firm was looking to source as much of the labour locally as possible.
Ms Goward said she hoped the construction helped create Highlands jobs.
"There is no excuse not to use local people," she said.
While the economic conditions had changed dramatically since Mr Ibrahim started the 3,875-m2 projects he said the banks love developments such as the Gillian Centre because they were "recession proof."
"We all grow old and get sick. We are confident we will get return on our investment," he said.
Mr Ibrahim said the St Henri Group had all their projects approved by council so far and the Group was in the early stages of developing two retail centres in Mittagong."
This was an interesting comment by Mr Ibrahim in that it was said about the same time that Dr Warwick Ruscoe of the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice was also approaching Wingecarribee Council to try and see if they would be willing to approve the development of a Federally funded Super Clinic over the Council's carpark in Moss Vale (conveniently adjacent to a SHDGP Board member's medical practice). Fortunately Council refused the good doctor's request in favour of the residents of the Shire being able to continue to use their car park.
It is perhaps strange then, that Mr Ibrahim seemed to run into some sertious trouble in getting his development in Moss Vale under way sometime after the Division's failed bid. Socrates can't help but notice the coincidences in this tale of two towns and two developers.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
SSWAHS and its solution for mental health patients in their care
Is this the plan for the future? SSWAHS outsourcing its clinical responsibilities to general practitioners who might be unable to deliver the basic medical skills to patients in the community. While asking for expressions of interest will the SSWAHS Executive bother to check whether the general practitioners responding to this proposal have the skills to provide the necessary clinical skills to those for who they are being made responsible.
Dr Teresa Anderson, SSWAHS Director of Clinical Operations, wrote to the CEO of the Central Sydney GP Network, Dr Michael Moore, on 20 August, 2010 to request expressions of interest from their organisation, or individual general practitioners and/or their practices. The focus of the EOI is to provide medical services to patients with mental illnesses who attend the SSWAHS community health centres.
SSWAHS cites the current situation they have at Croydon and Redfern Community Health Centres. It would appear that they have plans to eventually roll this program out for all their SSWAHS Community Health Centres including, presumably, the Bowral Community Health Centre.
Socrates suggests that what SSWAHS Executive is opting to do is to establish their existing Community Health Centres as the sort of "Super Clinics" which have been touted by the Federal Government and, mainly, by the various Divisions of General Practice. What will be the outcome one wonders? Will our Community Health Centre become the "Super Clinic" which has been sought by the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice? Will the Bowral Community Health Centre be handed over to Dr Warwick Ruscoe and Dr Vince Roche and the rest of the Board of the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice?
And what will be the outcome for the staff of the Community Health Centre who are employed by SSWAHS? Will this new method of handing over the clinical responsibility to local general practitioners mean that SSWAHS will be downsizing its staff numbers in order to satisfy those who want to replace staff with machines the go "ping"!
Finally, what about the patients with a mental illness, don't they also have the right like all of us to choose the doctor to which they go to seek their continuing treatment? If they are forced to go to a doctor chosen by SSWAHS do they really have a choice?
As for the GPs in the Southern Highlands, how do they feel about the Southern Highlands Division or SSWAHS selecting a general practitioner to take away their patients from their practices. If they have developed a good rapport with their patients do they really want to hand over the clinical responsibility of their patients to someone who may, or may not, have the same level of skills and empathy as they have.
Dr Teresa Anderson, SSWAHS Director of Clinical Operations, wrote to the CEO of the Central Sydney GP Network, Dr Michael Moore, on 20 August, 2010 to request expressions of interest from their organisation, or individual general practitioners and/or their practices. The focus of the EOI is to provide medical services to patients with mental illnesses who attend the SSWAHS community health centres.
SSWAHS cites the current situation they have at Croydon and Redfern Community Health Centres. It would appear that they have plans to eventually roll this program out for all their SSWAHS Community Health Centres including, presumably, the Bowral Community Health Centre.
Socrates suggests that what SSWAHS Executive is opting to do is to establish their existing Community Health Centres as the sort of "Super Clinics" which have been touted by the Federal Government and, mainly, by the various Divisions of General Practice. What will be the outcome one wonders? Will our Community Health Centre become the "Super Clinic" which has been sought by the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice? Will the Bowral Community Health Centre be handed over to Dr Warwick Ruscoe and Dr Vince Roche and the rest of the Board of the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice?
And what will be the outcome for the staff of the Community Health Centre who are employed by SSWAHS? Will this new method of handing over the clinical responsibility to local general practitioners mean that SSWAHS will be downsizing its staff numbers in order to satisfy those who want to replace staff with machines the go "ping"!
Finally, what about the patients with a mental illness, don't they also have the right like all of us to choose the doctor to which they go to seek their continuing treatment? If they are forced to go to a doctor chosen by SSWAHS do they really have a choice?
As for the GPs in the Southern Highlands, how do they feel about the Southern Highlands Division or SSWAHS selecting a general practitioner to take away their patients from their practices. If they have developed a good rapport with their patients do they really want to hand over the clinical responsibility of their patients to someone who may, or may not, have the same level of skills and empathy as they have.
SSWAHS and it's appalling record with Southern Highlander residents
Superbug amputee demands apology
Posted
Updated
A 31-year-old man wants an apology because his leg was amputated after he picked up an infection at a Sydney hospital.
Gregor Gniewosz from the New South Wales southern highlands went to Liverpool Hospital in 2007 to get treatment for an ulcer on his foot.
He says four months later he was told by a community nurse that he'd picked up the MRSA bug, and in March his leg was amputated below the knee.
Mr Gniewosz says it is time for someone in the health department to say sorry.
"To get an apology, for someone to actually own up to something, would be nice. That's one thing I did find in the hospital system is nobody takes responsibility," he said.
The New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees has told parliament the Government will look into Mr Gniewosz's case.
"I understand that the patient has undergone traumatic circumstances and I will ensure he is contacted immediately for an assessment to determine what further support can be provided, " he said.
"We take the issue of hospital acquired infection very seriously and this is reflected in the Government's response to the Garling Report, a response that incorporates several measures specifically relating to hospital."
The New South Wales Opposition says Mr Gniewosz's case is an appalling case of failure, incompetence and neglect.
It also says the State Government has not given Mr Gniewosz an artificial leg, a proper wheelchair or paid for modifications to his home that are now necessary.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
SSWAHS rebirthed: Will it make any difference to the Southern Highlands?
Well, now we have it - the news that Bowral and the Southern Highlands is back in the clutches of the same crew who have already caused us much grief over the past five years - the SSWAHS Executive.
The Local Health Networks have been announced. The likelihood that there will be little change made at the top levels of the current SSWAHS Executive except for some sideways movement. Socrates, in consulting with the Delphi Oracles, predicts that Mike Wallace current CEO will be given the plum job of managing one of the three Clinical Support Clusters. This will allow his current Deputy, Jan Whalan, to be given the position of the Chief Executive Officer of the rebirthed SSWAHS.
Will anything change? No! Most likely Ms Whalan will be closely following the party line of her mentor Mr Wallace and continue to move the essential services needed by the residents of the Southern Highlands towards Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals. There has been no show or recognition by Ms Whalan in the past, since the time she joined Mike Wallace, that she has any understanding of what are the health needs of the Southern Highlanders.
Socrates has no recollection of Ms Whalan ever visiting or engaging in any community forum about what even the most basic services are needed for our population. To use the phrase that typifies any big conglomerate - Ms Whalan seems to be focused on the big end of the SSWAHS empire.
What can we expect from these changes? After all, both the Premier and the Minister have assured all that the Local Health Networks will have representation from clinicians, and community members. It would appear to Socrates that those clinicians who want machines that go "ping" or new buildings to house them will be already be putting their names forward for the few places on these tokenistic committees. The "community members" will be placed in the invidious situation of having to compete with other communities for the health resources that will be on offer. I can imagine that community members on these Committees, in Liverpool or Campbelltown, will be convinced by Ms Whalan and her Executive that the people in the Southern Highlands can travel to Campbelltown and Liverpool hospitals if they have any need for clinical help or treatment.
Bowral health services and the Southern Highlands will continue to be seen as the rural outpost of the metropolitan SSWAHS, serviced by the dedicated band of local clinicians and supported by the local community. Socrates has the vision of, and similarity to, the fabled "lost patrol". We, in the Southern Highlands are destined to be just wandering round and around, somehow never connecting with the rest of the rebirthed SSWAHS.
The Local Health Networks have been announced. The likelihood that there will be little change made at the top levels of the current SSWAHS Executive except for some sideways movement. Socrates, in consulting with the Delphi Oracles, predicts that Mike Wallace current CEO will be given the plum job of managing one of the three Clinical Support Clusters. This will allow his current Deputy, Jan Whalan, to be given the position of the Chief Executive Officer of the rebirthed SSWAHS.
Will anything change? No! Most likely Ms Whalan will be closely following the party line of her mentor Mr Wallace and continue to move the essential services needed by the residents of the Southern Highlands towards Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals. There has been no show or recognition by Ms Whalan in the past, since the time she joined Mike Wallace, that she has any understanding of what are the health needs of the Southern Highlanders.
Socrates has no recollection of Ms Whalan ever visiting or engaging in any community forum about what even the most basic services are needed for our population. To use the phrase that typifies any big conglomerate - Ms Whalan seems to be focused on the big end of the SSWAHS empire.
What can we expect from these changes? After all, both the Premier and the Minister have assured all that the Local Health Networks will have representation from clinicians, and community members. It would appear to Socrates that those clinicians who want machines that go "ping" or new buildings to house them will be already be putting their names forward for the few places on these tokenistic committees. The "community members" will be placed in the invidious situation of having to compete with other communities for the health resources that will be on offer. I can imagine that community members on these Committees, in Liverpool or Campbelltown, will be convinced by Ms Whalan and her Executive that the people in the Southern Highlands can travel to Campbelltown and Liverpool hospitals if they have any need for clinical help or treatment.
Bowral health services and the Southern Highlands will continue to be seen as the rural outpost of the metropolitan SSWAHS, serviced by the dedicated band of local clinicians and supported by the local community. Socrates has the vision of, and similarity to, the fabled "lost patrol". We, in the Southern Highlands are destined to be just wandering round and around, somehow never connecting with the rest of the rebirthed SSWAHS.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
SSWAHS - National Health Reform: Strengthening Local Decision-Making
Proposed Local Health Network boundaries finalised, with Australia’s first networks on track to be in place in January 2011 - Media Release by the Premier of NSW - Wednesday 29 September, 2010
The NSW Government today outlined the future shape of our health system, with the announcement of 18 proposed Local Health Networks to strengthen local decision-making and community involvement in health service delivery.
The Government intends to introduce legislation in this session of Parliament to enable the networks, and deliver some of the most significant health reforms in a generation. The networks will replace the current eight Area Health Services and have their own budgets, management and accountabilities within their local areas.
They will be administered by a Chief Executive and Governing Council that includes local clinicians, health and health care management experts and community representatives. Local Health Networks are a key plank of the historic national health reforms agreed with the Federal Government in April 2010.
These reforms are delivering an extra $1.2 billion in funding to the NSW health system over four years and are contributing to 488 beds being opened in NSW in 2010/11.
In line with the National Health & Hospital Network Agreement, Premier Kristina Keneally will write to Prime Minister Julia Gillard to seek agreement on the boundaries.
“This is the latest demonstration of how the NSW Government is leading the way in the national health reforms,” Ms Keneally said.
“The boundaries we are outlining today were determined after one of the most extensive consultation processes ever conducted across the NSW health system.
“This structure would deliver better patient care, strengthen local decision-making and continue NSW’s work to build a world-class health system.
“NSW is on track to have among the first Local Health Networks in Australia, with plans finalised for them to be in place in January and recruitment now underway.”
The 18 networks will be as follows:
• Eight will be geographically based and cover the Sydney metropolitan region;
• Seven will be geographically based and cover rural and regional NSW; and
• Three specialty networks will focus on Children's Health, Forensic Mental Health, and services delivered by St Vincent’s Health.
The Local Health Network model was developed following extensive consultation with clinicians, health professionals and communities across NSW.
That model was put out for consultation in August 2010, via a discussion paper that proposed potential borders and governance arrangements for 17 Local Health Networks.
Nearly 400 submissions were received from the public, community groups and health
professionals, leading to further improvements to the model being put in place, including:
Establishment of a specialist 18th network that covers the St Vincent’s facilities (St Vincent’s and St Joseph’s hospitals, and Sacred Heart Hospice);
• Putting in place Ministerial directions for each network, including for Blacktown Hospital, the Orana Region and St George, accounting for local feedback and local population health needs.
• Establishing clinical support clusters that will support services such as cancer, renal, mental health, and drug and alcohol programs;
• Expediting discussions to develop cross-border health agreements with the ACT, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia;
• Providing an enhanced role for the Clinical Excellence Commission, to strengthen interaction with clinicians in the new, localised public health structure;
• Establishing formal agreements between Governing Councils and local government (Governing Councils oversee each individual network) to strengthen local government engagement with health services; and
• Continuing a strong role for Local Health Advisory Councils, which will provide local advice to each network’s Governing Council.
“The networks are based on what most clinicians told us would be the most effective way of strengthening local decision-making and delivering high quality care,” Ms Keneally said.
“I’m very proud that NSW is leading the nation with these important health reforms.
“I would like to thank the hundreds of people from the health system, community groups and individual members of the public who helped design the system we are announcing today.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, Carmel Tebbutt said the original model proposed has been further improved after the wide range of feedback received.
“In particular, we have established a specialty network that will cover the facilities of St Vincent’s Public Health Services in Sydney,” Ms Tebbutt said.
“This aligns with the approach being taken in other states, and means St Vincent’s facilities and services will be integrated into the health system, rather than split across two networks.
“We have also moved to put administrative arrangements in place to ensure a close
relationship between the networks, local government and communities.
“The Government will enter a Statement Of Intent with the Local Government and Shires
Association, particularly in relation to the Western and Southern Local Health Networks.
“And in light of the feedback we have received, we will continue to quarantine mental health funding, meaning it will be used directly for providing mental services.
“We will now move quickly to recruit the right balance of local knowledge and medical expertise to manage the new Local Health Networks.”
Each Governing Council will have between 6 and 13 members (including a Chair) depending on the size of the network, complexity of the services to be provided, and other local factors.
Expressions of Interest for Chairs of the Local Health Network Governing Councils have been sought, and a selection process is scheduled to take place in October.
Advertisements will appear this Saturday, calling for Expressions of Interest for general members of the Network Governing Councils. Recruitment will be finalised in November.
Upon finalisation of those appointments, a final round of recruitment will start for Local Health Network Chief Executives, who will be appointed by each Network Governing Council with the approval of the Minister for Health.
The networks will be established in January 2011, and the NSW Health system will progressively transition to the new structure over the following 6 to 12 months.
Background Notes
National Health Reform
• On 20 April 2010, the Commonwealth reached an historic agreement with States and
Territories (except WA) to implement national health reform – National Health and Hospitals Network for Australia’s Future.
• The Agreement will result in major funding and structural changes to the NSW health system that will further improve the quality and accessibility of health services.
• In May, June and July, NSW Health conducted an extensive consultation process with health professionals across the State, seeking their input into developing suitable boundaries for the new Local Health Networks (LHNs) which will replace Area Health Services under the national reform.
• That feedback was used to develop proposed LHN boundaries, outlined in a Discussion
Paper released by the NSW Premier on 5 August. This opened a further and final round of consultation which attracted almost 400 submissions.
• Those submissions along with advice from a number of senior clinicians has informed the configuration of a new health system structure in NSW. The outcome was confirmation of 15 geographically-based LHNs – eight metropolitan and seven regional – and three specialist LHNs, comprising a Children’s Network, Forensic Mental Health and St Vincent’s.
Further elements of the Local Health Network structure:
Blacktown Hospital – Special Recognition
• Some submissions were received calling for Blacktown Hospital to be separated from the Western Sydney Local Health Network because of its large and growing population. Other submissions supported the integration of Blacktown into the Network.
• It was concluded that the new LHN offers the best overall outcome for patients and staff, but acknowledged that special recognition was needed for Blacktown.
• Blacktown will be established as a distinct sector within Western Sydney LHN with its own Service Agreement.
• Blacktown Hospital will have a distinct sector budget within the LHN, as well as additional control over resourcing and accountability.
Orana – Special Recognition
• Some submissions supported a stand-alone LHN for the Orana region in the State’s
northwest, rather than including Orana in Central West LHN. However experience indicates that it would be difficult to recruit key clinical staff to a smaller, stand-alone LHN in regional NSW.
• The Government has responded to the submission by establishing a distinct Western Sector budget for the Orana region, as well as a Service Agreement governing specific service levels and capital works planning for Dubbo Hospital.
St George – Special Recognition
• Ministerial directions will be issued requiring the service agreement with South East Sydney to recognise St George/Sutherland as a distinct sector with its own budget, reflecting the successful network and Clinical Council which currently operate.
Clinical Support Clusters
• Submissions acknowledged the importance of maintaining existing clinical service networks that were developed across existing Area Health Service structures.
• However concerns were raised about how the new, smaller LHNs could continue to deliver networked services including mental health, drug and alcohol, renal, cancer and pathology.
• NSW Health and the Government have responded by creating three Clinical Support Clusters that will support inter-LHN networked services across the health system.
• In light of the feedback we have received, we will continue to quarantine mental health funding, meaning it will be used directly for providing mental services.
St Vincent’s Health Network
• A submission from St Vincent’s Health Australia recommended creating a new network based on three of its Sydney health facilities – St Vincent’s Hospital and Sacred Heart Hospice in Darlinghurst, and St Joseph’s Hospital in Auburn.
• Together, these facilities play a significant role in the delivery of publicly-funded acute and sub-acute healthcare services, including cardiology, immunology and virology, cancer, palliative care and rehabilitation. They also make a major contribution to medical research and teaching new generations of clinicians.
• Prior to receiving St Vincent’s submission, the three facilities were to be placed within the geographically-based LHNs of South Eastern Sydney and Western Sydney.
• The Government acknowledges the high degree of integration of St Vincent’s facilities with the public health system and agrees with its submission.
• St Vincent’s existing local management satisfies requirements of the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement.
• St Vincent’s public health operations will be funded in a similar manner to other LHNs, and subject to the same reporting processes.
Clinical Excellence Commission
• The Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) was established to ensure public healthcare organisations in NSW maintain high standards of patient care, maintain high levels of accountability, and strive to continuously improve the quality of clinical services.
• A large part of the CEC’s success has been based on unimpeded, two-way flow of
information between clinicians, hospitals, Area Health Services and NSW Health.
• The Government recognises that increased localisation and specialisation creates a need for enhanced interaction between the CEC and the new LHNs.
• To ensure the CEC is adequately resourced and connected to the new structure, three
Regional Coordinators of Clinical Governance reporting to the CEC will be established.
Next Steps:
• With the LHN boundaries now finalised, the NSW Premier will write to the Prime Minister seeking formal sign-off, as required under the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement.
• Recruitment has already commenced for Chairs of the LHN Governing Councils.
• An advertisement calling for Expressions of Interest in general membership positions on LHN Governing Councils will appear in newspapers around NSW this Saturday and recruitment will be finalised in November.
• Upon finalisation of appointments to the Governing Councils, a third round of recruitment will commence for LHN Chief Executives.
• It is anticipated that Australia’s first Local Health Networks will be established from January 2011.
Socrates says that it seems that the fate of the Southern Highlands has been determined by the Premier and Minister in this Media Release. One has to ask the question: "What representations have been made from medical staff or other health staff or the community members from our own region which have been even considered by the Premier or Minister in making their decision about the future of health services in the Southern Highlands". The tragedy is quite simply, that we have the same system, the same executive members and the same limited view of the health needs of the people of the Southern Highlands. If the community do not take the initiative to become the advocates and agitators for the health services our population requires we are doomed to the whimseys of those in Liverpool who see no further afield than Campbelltown.
The NSW Government today outlined the future shape of our health system, with the announcement of 18 proposed Local Health Networks to strengthen local decision-making and community involvement in health service delivery.
The Government intends to introduce legislation in this session of Parliament to enable the networks, and deliver some of the most significant health reforms in a generation. The networks will replace the current eight Area Health Services and have their own budgets, management and accountabilities within their local areas.
They will be administered by a Chief Executive and Governing Council that includes local clinicians, health and health care management experts and community representatives. Local Health Networks are a key plank of the historic national health reforms agreed with the Federal Government in April 2010.
These reforms are delivering an extra $1.2 billion in funding to the NSW health system over four years and are contributing to 488 beds being opened in NSW in 2010/11.
In line with the National Health & Hospital Network Agreement, Premier Kristina Keneally will write to Prime Minister Julia Gillard to seek agreement on the boundaries.
“This is the latest demonstration of how the NSW Government is leading the way in the national health reforms,” Ms Keneally said.
“The boundaries we are outlining today were determined after one of the most extensive consultation processes ever conducted across the NSW health system.
“This structure would deliver better patient care, strengthen local decision-making and continue NSW’s work to build a world-class health system.
“NSW is on track to have among the first Local Health Networks in Australia, with plans finalised for them to be in place in January and recruitment now underway.”
The 18 networks will be as follows:
• Eight will be geographically based and cover the Sydney metropolitan region;
• Seven will be geographically based and cover rural and regional NSW; and
• Three specialty networks will focus on Children's Health, Forensic Mental Health, and services delivered by St Vincent’s Health.
The Local Health Network model was developed following extensive consultation with clinicians, health professionals and communities across NSW.
That model was put out for consultation in August 2010, via a discussion paper that proposed potential borders and governance arrangements for 17 Local Health Networks.
Nearly 400 submissions were received from the public, community groups and health
professionals, leading to further improvements to the model being put in place, including:
Establishment of a specialist 18th network that covers the St Vincent’s facilities (St Vincent’s and St Joseph’s hospitals, and Sacred Heart Hospice);
• Putting in place Ministerial directions for each network, including for Blacktown Hospital, the Orana Region and St George, accounting for local feedback and local population health needs.
• Establishing clinical support clusters that will support services such as cancer, renal, mental health, and drug and alcohol programs;
• Expediting discussions to develop cross-border health agreements with the ACT, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia;
• Providing an enhanced role for the Clinical Excellence Commission, to strengthen interaction with clinicians in the new, localised public health structure;
• Establishing formal agreements between Governing Councils and local government (Governing Councils oversee each individual network) to strengthen local government engagement with health services; and
• Continuing a strong role for Local Health Advisory Councils, which will provide local advice to each network’s Governing Council.
“The networks are based on what most clinicians told us would be the most effective way of strengthening local decision-making and delivering high quality care,” Ms Keneally said.
“I’m very proud that NSW is leading the nation with these important health reforms.
“I would like to thank the hundreds of people from the health system, community groups and individual members of the public who helped design the system we are announcing today.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, Carmel Tebbutt said the original model proposed has been further improved after the wide range of feedback received.
“In particular, we have established a specialty network that will cover the facilities of St Vincent’s Public Health Services in Sydney,” Ms Tebbutt said.
“This aligns with the approach being taken in other states, and means St Vincent’s facilities and services will be integrated into the health system, rather than split across two networks.
“We have also moved to put administrative arrangements in place to ensure a close
relationship between the networks, local government and communities.
“The Government will enter a Statement Of Intent with the Local Government and Shires
Association, particularly in relation to the Western and Southern Local Health Networks.
“And in light of the feedback we have received, we will continue to quarantine mental health funding, meaning it will be used directly for providing mental services.
“We will now move quickly to recruit the right balance of local knowledge and medical expertise to manage the new Local Health Networks.”
Each Governing Council will have between 6 and 13 members (including a Chair) depending on the size of the network, complexity of the services to be provided, and other local factors.
Expressions of Interest for Chairs of the Local Health Network Governing Councils have been sought, and a selection process is scheduled to take place in October.
Advertisements will appear this Saturday, calling for Expressions of Interest for general members of the Network Governing Councils. Recruitment will be finalised in November.
Upon finalisation of those appointments, a final round of recruitment will start for Local Health Network Chief Executives, who will be appointed by each Network Governing Council with the approval of the Minister for Health.
The networks will be established in January 2011, and the NSW Health system will progressively transition to the new structure over the following 6 to 12 months.
Background Notes
National Health Reform
• On 20 April 2010, the Commonwealth reached an historic agreement with States and
Territories (except WA) to implement national health reform – National Health and Hospitals Network for Australia’s Future.
• The Agreement will result in major funding and structural changes to the NSW health system that will further improve the quality and accessibility of health services.
• In May, June and July, NSW Health conducted an extensive consultation process with health professionals across the State, seeking their input into developing suitable boundaries for the new Local Health Networks (LHNs) which will replace Area Health Services under the national reform.
• That feedback was used to develop proposed LHN boundaries, outlined in a Discussion
Paper released by the NSW Premier on 5 August. This opened a further and final round of consultation which attracted almost 400 submissions.
• Those submissions along with advice from a number of senior clinicians has informed the configuration of a new health system structure in NSW. The outcome was confirmation of 15 geographically-based LHNs – eight metropolitan and seven regional – and three specialist LHNs, comprising a Children’s Network, Forensic Mental Health and St Vincent’s.
Further elements of the Local Health Network structure:
Blacktown Hospital – Special Recognition
• Some submissions were received calling for Blacktown Hospital to be separated from the Western Sydney Local Health Network because of its large and growing population. Other submissions supported the integration of Blacktown into the Network.
• It was concluded that the new LHN offers the best overall outcome for patients and staff, but acknowledged that special recognition was needed for Blacktown.
• Blacktown will be established as a distinct sector within Western Sydney LHN with its own Service Agreement.
• Blacktown Hospital will have a distinct sector budget within the LHN, as well as additional control over resourcing and accountability.
Orana – Special Recognition
• Some submissions supported a stand-alone LHN for the Orana region in the State’s
northwest, rather than including Orana in Central West LHN. However experience indicates that it would be difficult to recruit key clinical staff to a smaller, stand-alone LHN in regional NSW.
• The Government has responded to the submission by establishing a distinct Western Sector budget for the Orana region, as well as a Service Agreement governing specific service levels and capital works planning for Dubbo Hospital.
St George – Special Recognition
• Ministerial directions will be issued requiring the service agreement with South East Sydney to recognise St George/Sutherland as a distinct sector with its own budget, reflecting the successful network and Clinical Council which currently operate.
Clinical Support Clusters
• Submissions acknowledged the importance of maintaining existing clinical service networks that were developed across existing Area Health Service structures.
• However concerns were raised about how the new, smaller LHNs could continue to deliver networked services including mental health, drug and alcohol, renal, cancer and pathology.
• NSW Health and the Government have responded by creating three Clinical Support Clusters that will support inter-LHN networked services across the health system.
• In light of the feedback we have received, we will continue to quarantine mental health funding, meaning it will be used directly for providing mental services.
St Vincent’s Health Network
• A submission from St Vincent’s Health Australia recommended creating a new network based on three of its Sydney health facilities – St Vincent’s Hospital and Sacred Heart Hospice in Darlinghurst, and St Joseph’s Hospital in Auburn.
• Together, these facilities play a significant role in the delivery of publicly-funded acute and sub-acute healthcare services, including cardiology, immunology and virology, cancer, palliative care and rehabilitation. They also make a major contribution to medical research and teaching new generations of clinicians.
• Prior to receiving St Vincent’s submission, the three facilities were to be placed within the geographically-based LHNs of South Eastern Sydney and Western Sydney.
• The Government acknowledges the high degree of integration of St Vincent’s facilities with the public health system and agrees with its submission.
• St Vincent’s existing local management satisfies requirements of the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement.
• St Vincent’s public health operations will be funded in a similar manner to other LHNs, and subject to the same reporting processes.
Clinical Excellence Commission
• The Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) was established to ensure public healthcare organisations in NSW maintain high standards of patient care, maintain high levels of accountability, and strive to continuously improve the quality of clinical services.
• A large part of the CEC’s success has been based on unimpeded, two-way flow of
information between clinicians, hospitals, Area Health Services and NSW Health.
• The Government recognises that increased localisation and specialisation creates a need for enhanced interaction between the CEC and the new LHNs.
• To ensure the CEC is adequately resourced and connected to the new structure, three
Regional Coordinators of Clinical Governance reporting to the CEC will be established.
Next Steps:
• With the LHN boundaries now finalised, the NSW Premier will write to the Prime Minister seeking formal sign-off, as required under the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement.
• Recruitment has already commenced for Chairs of the LHN Governing Councils.
• An advertisement calling for Expressions of Interest in general membership positions on LHN Governing Councils will appear in newspapers around NSW this Saturday and recruitment will be finalised in November.
• Upon finalisation of appointments to the Governing Councils, a third round of recruitment will commence for LHN Chief Executives.
• It is anticipated that Australia’s first Local Health Networks will be established from January 2011.
Socrates says that it seems that the fate of the Southern Highlands has been determined by the Premier and Minister in this Media Release. One has to ask the question: "What representations have been made from medical staff or other health staff or the community members from our own region which have been even considered by the Premier or Minister in making their decision about the future of health services in the Southern Highlands". The tragedy is quite simply, that we have the same system, the same executive members and the same limited view of the health needs of the people of the Southern Highlands. If the community do not take the initiative to become the advocates and agitators for the health services our population requires we are doomed to the whimseys of those in Liverpool who see no further afield than Campbelltown.
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