CRG Chairs helping give their communities a voice
Chairs of the region’s Community Reference Groups (CRGs) are working together to provide real feedback from local patients and residents into Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service’s future planning.
Most CRG chairs have recently been reconfirmed in their roles, as they lead their local groups in helping to provide input and feedback on the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of WBHHS’s services.
WBHHS established the CRGs across the Wide Bay as part of its broader strategy of engaging with its community.
At a recent meeting in Bundaberg, which also included WBHHS Board and staff members, the chairs also benefited from a number of presentations to update them on health service developments and help them to understand a range of issues across Wide Bay.
“Our CRGs play a vital role in helping WBHHS shape the provision of future health services to their local communities,” Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board Chair Peta Jamieson said.
“WBHHS’s strategic plan Care Comes First… Through Patients’ Eyes sets out an overarching purpose of delivering patient-centred, high-quality health care for the people of Wide Bay.
“To achieve a patient-centred model of health care, WBHHS has to actively engage its community by taking on its feedback and ensuring it is planning services that meet the community’s needs both now and into the future.
“Our CRGs are one of the ways we engage because they serve as a direct link to the community.”
Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders commended the CRGs for strengthening how the WBHHS consulted with his community.
“Patients and families value the opportunity to give their feedback and engage with decision-makers,” Mr Saunders said.
“Everyone ends up needing the health system at some point, so we have to make sure it works for everyone.
“This is especially true in a regional city like Maryborough, and I hope locals here feel empowered to engage with the CRG to help make our services even better.”
Each CRG consists of a cross-section of residents and representatives of their local district, providing strong networks back into the community.
Chairs of the CRGs across the region are:
- John Zahl, Gayndah
- Margaret Kelly, Mundubbera
- Les Hotz, Monto
- John O'Brien, Biggenden
- John Bowen, Mt Perry
- Dorothy (Dot) Hamilton, Eidsvold
- Still confirming, Childers
- Pam Mackie, Discovery Coast
- Rowan Bond, Bundaberg
- Terry Meehan, Hervey Bay
- Glennis Goodman, Gin Gin
- Kylie Nitz, Maryborough
“Our CRG chairs lead their respective groups as they help evaluate our services and plan for the future,” Ms Jamieson said.
“Engagement with the broader community is an important part of the CRGs as they serve as a link to the health service, which is why our chairs have such strong community links and networks.
“Our chairs and their fellow CRG members provide that community network which offers real and unfiltered feedback about where we are succeeding and where we can improve.
“The CRG members and their networks also enable us to promote important messages back into the community – whether it is a new service being developed or about infrastructure projects being delivered.”
