PROMISE

ACTION

Immediate injection of funding by Queensland Government

$548 million extra this year including $42 million extra for elective surgery, $38 million extra for emergency departments and $31 million extra for intensive care units.

More long-term funding by Queensland Government

$6.4 billion extra in just over five years

Matching funding from Federal Government

Not provided. If the Federal Government was required to match funding they would owe Queenslanders $1.6 billion over the life of the current health care agreement which expires in 2008.

Tackle lifestyle diseases which burden hospitals

The $155 million Queensland Strategy for Chronic Disease 2005-2015 (QSCD) aims to prevent chronic diseases and their key risk factors, improving the quality of life for people with chronic diseases and reducing the level of avoidable hospital admissions. Recruitment is well underway for over 150 staff, including public health and community nutritionists, alcohol and drug prevention officers and the clinical staff required to support chronic disease initiatives across the State. Initiatives include: the Obesity Summit being held on May 3 and 4; launch of campaign to eat more fruit and vegetables; initiatives at North Lakes, Logan-Beaudesert and Innisfail focussing on delivering co-ordinated health care at the local level through public and private health partners working together.

Sufficiently reward staff for their dedication and effort so that they will be attracted to working in the public health system

Industrial agreements have been or are close to being reached with all staff. These agreements make our pay and conditions more competitive with other states and the private sector. They included more than $1 billion in pay increases for doctors. An offer of around $1 billion is on the table for nurses.

Recruit 300 extra doctors by December 2006

272 extra doctors already appointed

Recruit 400 extra allied health staff by December 2006

413 extra allied health staff already appointed

Recruit 500 extra nurses by December 2006

1,082 extra nurses employed including 829 Registered Nurses (140 of these were base rate graduate nurses)

Offering a job to all nurse graduates

A total of 742 nursing graduates have been employed into 2006 Queensland Health start of year programs.

Funding 20 scholarships for nurse practitioners

12 scholarships (7 in Central Area and 5 in Southern Area) awarded for commencement in Semester 1, 2006. Remaining 8 scholarships (6 in Northern Area and 2 in Central Area) are in the process of selection and due to commence in Semester 2, 2006.

Funding 235 doctor training places at Griffith University

35 students commenced at Griffith University on 6 February 2006 with both the student and Queensland Health signing the scholarship contract. Another 200 students will start over the next four years.

Additional medical intern positions (training positions for new graduate doctors)

Medical intern numbers are growing significantly as JCU students complete their courses. Further growth is anticipated in future as Griffith and Bond students also complete their courses.

Additional specialist training registrar positions

20 additional specialist training registrar positions have been allocated to Townsville, Cairns, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Royal Children’s Hospital, The Prince Charles Hospital, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital and QEII. Specialties include medicine, general surgery, orthopaedics, vascular surgery, maxillofacial surgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, ENT, paediatrics, radiology, obstetrics/gynaecology, cardiology and paediatric cardiology. In addition, the number of specialist training positions is being increased by 55 with additional places already in surgery, pathology and radiology.

Invest in information systems

Work has commenced on Queensland Health's e-health strategy to help deliver health reform and identify the priorities and options for the next 5-7 years to improve clinical care and operational processes. Queensland Health is improving internet access for doctors. Provision of internet access for doctors at Princess Alexandra and the Royal Children’s hospitals is 95% complete. The Royal Brisbane and Women’s, QEII and The Prince Charles hospitals have begun to collect their data and processing of internet access for these sites will begin shortly. Logan and Gold Coast hospitals have been contacted to begin their preparations. Rural and remote sites that can be included in Phase 1 have been identified and are currently being prioritised.

Easier and more effective complaints process with a new $7.7 million Health Commission to monitor Queensland Health’s performance and report to public

Significant progress continues to be made in the establishment of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission. An exposure draft of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission Bill has now been developed. Consultation with key stakeholders will commence soon. The development of the Bill will ensure that the new commission is able to commence operations on 1 July 2006. Other key issues being addressed are preparation of an operational plan for  the new commission, securing additional accommodation, assessing additional staffing requirements and establishing necessary data linkages

More training places for doctors needed from Commonwealth Government

The Commonwealth has funded an additional 240 medical student places and 1000 nursing student places across Australia although it is still unclear at this point how many Qld will get.  It will be far less then the number needed – 325 extra places in Qld a year. They have also increased the cap on full-fee-paying domestic students in medicine from 15% to 25% but this is not likely to produce a major increase in numbers.

Giving doctors more power by establishing Clinical Networks to improve results for patients

New Clinical Networks Policy and implementation guide published. 32 networks are operational across a range of disciplines in the Area Health Services including emergency departments, surgical services, cancer, maternity, orthopaedics and intensive care.

Cutting 162 head office positions and moving 679 head office positions to take part in local delivery of health services

168 head office positions abolished. 1,150 head office staff re-assigned to districts and Areas

Revealing more information than ever before in a transparent process

New ‘Our Performance’ Related Reports on hospital activity (monthly) developed on Qld Health website; Elective surgery waiting times (quarterly), emergency dept performance (daily), staffing (monthly) are now provided. Public Reporting Panel appointed to advise Minister on next steps

New leadership based on values of caring for people, integrity and respect

New Leadership Development Program starts next month; Climate and Culture questionnaire for 25% of  Qld Health staff every 6 months (all  staff over 2 years); 2 day residential workshop for 300 executives and clinicians being rolled out starting next month; 2 day non-residential workshops  starting in September for 4,500 supervisors

New Code of Conduct with zero tolerance for bullying

Was launched in February and is now in place for all staff, with requirement to be open about reporting mistakes – plus $3 million to improve workplace culture.

Statewide Health Services Plan

Development of the statewide health services plan is underway with preparation of discussion papers around key elements. Consultation will occur with both the clinical and general community as part of the development of the statewide health services plan. The public consultation is likely to occur in August 2006.

Examine opportunities to outsource elective surgery where the public system is at capacity

Queensland Health is negotiating to use private facilities in Cairns, Ipswich and Townsville and for the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospitals commencing this financial year.

Medical Excellence Taskforce to develop system to govern the recruitment, assessment, supervision, training and support of doctors

Ken Donald and has met six times since November 2005. It has presented 2 reports on the recruitment, assessment, registration, training and support processes in relation to all medical practitioners to the Minister and drafted a new Area of Need policy. Cabinet will consider these reports and possible legislative changes in the near future

Establish a State-wide Patient Safety and Clinical Improvement Service

Following the restructuring of Qld Health, the Reform and Development Division now includes two groups which together form this service: the Clinical Practice Improvement Centre and the Patient Safety Centre. The Division will also service a networked Patient Safety and Quality Board which will ensure a high priority is attached to these functions.

Introducing a new clinical governance system

A Clinical Governance Framework Discussion Paper has been released for comment by stakeholders. Consultation is due to close on 19 May 2006.

In addition

99 new public hospital beds have been opened, with another 170 to come;

13 HEALTH 24-hour medical help hotline will open state-wide next week.

$3 million program to identify solutions to access block to improve patient flow through hospitals;

$40 million is being invested in new technology medical equipment for hospitals throughout Queensland, including Brisbane, Cairns, Rockhampton, Mackay Bundaberg, Toowoomba and Mareeba

$178 million redevelopment of the mater Hospital Complex, including the new Mater Mothers Hospital, is underway

$84.5 million upgrade of The Prince Charles Hospital is underway

$15.7 million upgrade of Wondai Hospital is underway

Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department reopened 24-hours, seven days from 18 April 2006

Four clinical CEOs have been created and recruitment is underway for senior doctors to manage and coordinate medical services at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Rockhampton and Cairns Hospital

Most of the patients of Jayant Patel who contacted the Bundaberg Hospital Patient Liaison Service have had their follow-up operations and surgical procedures completed.

$1.8 million has been provided in ongoing treatment for Patel patients