Creating healthier communities:

through locally responsive and connected health care

Australia's health system performs well internationally, however it is a system under increasing pressure with the added burden of an ageing population and escalating chronic disease. The cost of delivering health services is growing at twice the rate of the Consumer Price Index. We need to change the way we operate our health system.

Commonwealth, State and Territory governments have agreed to transform the Australian health system. Queensland is now working towards the implementation of the reforms that will change the way public health and hospital services are managed.

Reform for Queensland will mean:

• decision-making and accountability that is more responsive to local health priorities
• stronger clinician, consumer and community participation
• a more 'seamless' patient experience across sectors of the health system.

Changes from 1 July 2012:

• Establishment of 17 Hospital and Health Services (HHSs).
• HHSs will be statutory bodies with Hospital and Health Boards, accountable to the local community and the Queensland Parliament.
• The Boards will have expertise to manage large, complex healthcare organisations.
• HHSs, Medicare Locals and other health service providers will work together to better integrate local services and drive improvements in health outcomes.

We will continue:

• to provide all Queenslanders, including those living in rural, regional and remote areas with access to high quality health care
• centralised planning of system-wide services, capital builds and other significant infrastructure projects
• to train our workforce for the future.