09 May 2009

Caring Together: Garling state-wide implementation teams

Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, today announced high level teams to oversee the State Government's $485 million Caring Together: The Health Action Plan for NSW - the most comprehensive reform in the history of the State's public hospital system.

"I would like to extend my thanks to all those front line staff who are joining local implementation teams and to the eminent members of the state teams who have now agreed to assist them with improving patient care and safety across NSW," the Minister said.

"To provide a transparent monitoring process for Caring Together, I have established an Independent Panel to regularly audit progress.

"The panel will be chaired by John Walsh, partner in the risk and value practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has extensive experience as a consulting actuary in general insurance, accident compensation and the health industry.

"The panel includes clinicians as well as people with expertise in culture change, systems information, trend analysis, and governance and administration and will have its own independent secretariat.

"The panel will report on the progress of Caring Together each six months for the next three years.

"To assist NSW Health implement Caring Together, I have also established an independent Community and Clinicians Expert Advisory Council.

"The Council will provide advice directly to me and the Director-General on the initiatives underway and the work of the implementation teams at the local level.

"The Council will be chaired by Dr Michael Keating.

"Dr Keating is a former head of the Australian Public Service and other senior Commonwealth departments including Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet," Mr Della Bosca said.

"He is also a Visiting Fellow in the Economics Program at the Research School of Social Sciences in the Australian National University and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Policy at Griffith University.

"Also, a new sub-committee of Cabinet will oversee implementation of Caring Together. The reports of the Independent Panel will be prepared for the Minister and the Cabinet sub-committee," the Minister said.

"The focus of the Caring Together action plan is to build on the great tradition of the NSW health system where the care and treatment of the patient is at the centre of everything we do," Mr Della Bosca said.

"As noted in the Garling Report , NSW has one of the better public health care systems in the world but we need to meet the challenges of the future, including the rising cost of health care and an ageing population.

"We need to ensure the record amount of funding our hospitals receive is used to provide the best possible care to as many people as possible.

"Caring Together is the result of extensive consultation across the State and from working closely with doctors, nurses and other health staff," the Minister said.

"These initiatives are only the beginning of important changes to continue to deliver the best possible health care and to ensure on-going patient care and safety.

"While the NSW Government has a comprehensive plan to improve patient care and has supported 134 out of 139 Garling Report recommendations, the Opposition has come up with a flimsy six point plan which will divert $300 million away from front line services.

"Barry O'Farrell and his shadow health spokesperson want to increase the number of Area Health Services from eight to 20.

"Their plan will result in more red tape, managers, more offices and fewer resources for clinicians and patients," Mr Della Bosca said.

For more information about the Caring Together action plan, visit www.healthactionplan.nsw.gov.au

Full list of members of the Community and Clinicians Expert Advisory Council and Independent Panel are attached.

Independent Panel members

John Walsh - Chair

John Walsh is a partner in the risk and value practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers, which he joined in 1991. During the past decade, he has worked in a variety of roles as a consulting actuary in general insurance, accident compensation and the health industry. In 2001, he was named Actuary of the Year by the Institute of Actuaries of Australia in recognition of this work. His experience in these industries has led to much professional and committee work with government, discussing options for future health financing and delivery models.

Fr Gerald Arbuckle

Gerald Arbuckle is a graduate in social anthropology from Cambridge University, a former assistant-general of the Marist Fathers. He has a worldwide reputation for his application of cultural anthropological insights.

Fr Arbuckle is the co-founder and co-director of Re-founding and Pastoral Development Ministry which was established in 1990 as a flexible, international research and consultancy unit.

Dr Ruth Arnold

Dr Arnold is a leading Australian cardiologist and VMO at Orange Base Hospital. She is clinical lecturer at the School of Rural Health in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney, Chair of the Medical Staff Advisory Council in Orange and has a particular interest in ensuring residents of rural NSW have access to high quality medical services.

Professor Pat Brodie

Professor Brodie is Professor of Midwifery Practice Development and Research in Sydney South West Area Health Service. Professor Brodie has been involved in a wide range of midwifery practice, teaching, research and management roles that span over 25 years. Professor Brodie is the current national president of the Australian College of Midwives and in 2007 was awarded life membership of the college for her sustained service and contributions to the midwifery profession and maternity services in Australia.

Helen Dowling

Helen Dowling has been registered as a pharmacist since 1978 and was appointed in April 2008 as the Area Director of the Pharmacy within Hunter New England Health. During her career, Mrs Dowling has held the positions of Director of Pharmacy at John Hunter Hospital for over 12 years and for the Greater Newcastle sector for seven years. Mrs Dowling is the Deputy President of the Pharmacy Board of NSW, is on the Board of the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards and lectures in the University of Newcastle graduate entry Master of Pharmacy program. Mrs Dowling was Federal President of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia from 2000-02.

Professor Phillip Harris AM

Professor Phillip Harris is head of the Department of Cardiology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; Clinical Professor at the University of Sydney and Clinical Co-Director of the Cardiovascular Service at Sydney South West Area Health Service. Professor Harris has been Chair of the Patient Care Committee at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for 13 years and was recognised in the Australia Day honours list 2009 for services to medicine in the field of cardiology.

Community and Clinicians Expert Advisory Council members

Dr Michael Keating AC- Chair

Dr Michael Keating is former head of the Australian Public Service and various senior Commonwealth Departments including Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Dr Keating is also a member of the Board of Skills Australia.

Associate Professor Jennifer Allison

Jennifer Allison is an Associate Professor in Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy and Head of the Discipline of Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney. Professor Allison is also a clinical physiotherapist at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and is the co-chair of the Greater Metropolitan Clinical Task Force Respiratory Network. She is the Chair of the joint committee of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and the Australian Lung Foundation. Professor Allison is a Senior Researcher in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and leads the Lung and Heart Physiotherapy Research Group at the University of Sydney.

Professor Mark Brown

Professor Mark Brown is a Staff Specialist Nephrologist and Head of the Department of Nephrology at St George Hospital. Professor Brown is also conjoint Professor of Medicine at the University of New South Wales. Until recently Professor Brown was the Director of the Institute for Medical Education and Training.

Andrew Buchanan

Andrew Buchanan is Chairperson of the Disability Council of NSW. The Disability Council of NSW is a key agency in the complex network of government, non-government and commercial organisations whose activities affect the lives of people with disability, their families and close associates. Mr Buchanan was formerly General Manager of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Local Radio Network and is a specialist in corporate change.

Professor Jackie Crisp

Professor Jackie Crisp, RN, PhD David Coe Professor of Child and Adolescent Nursing - a collaborative Clinical Chair between Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick (South Eastern and Illawarra Area Health Service) and the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at the University of Technology, Sydney. Professor Crisp is also a Conjoint Professor within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of New South Wales.

Samantha Faithfull

Samantha Faithfull is a Nurse in Charge at St Vincents Hospital and is currently on secondment working on projects such as 'Take the Lead' and 'Essentials of Care'. Ms Faithfull is the President of the Nursing and Midwifery Unit Managers Society of NSW.

Associate Professor Robert Farnsworth OAM

Associate Professor Robert Farnsworth OAM is Clinical Program Director of Surgery at Prince of Wales Hospital and Head of the Paediatrics Urology Department at Sydney Children's Hospital. He was awarded a medal in the Order of Australia for service to medicine, particularly his work as a paediatric urologist. As a surgeon Professor Farnsworth was involved in the first renal transplant and has since been instrumental in establishing world leading urological surgical services particularly for children and those with a disability.

Associate Professor Lyn Fragar AO 

Associate Professor Lyn Fragar AO is director of the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (University of Sydney). She was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of work in farm health and safety at local, state and national levels. Professor Fragar is Director of the Australian Rural Health Research Collaboration. She is Executive Director Farmsafe Australia and Deputy Chair of the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority. Professor Fragar is the instigator and inaugural secretary of the Moree and Community Rural Counselling Service.

Jackie Gattenhof

Jackie Gattenhof of Coolamon is the State President of the United Hospital Auxiliary of NSW. Members of the United Hospital Auxiliary of NSW play a pivotal role in supporting and raising funds for their local hospitals. Ms Gattenhof has lived most of her life in the City, but for the past 15 years has lived in the country. This has given her an insight into both worlds. She says that one thing is the same everywhere - the need for volunteers - and this is something so enjoyable it is no effort to be involved in.

Professor Mike Hazelton

Professor Mike Hazelton, RN MA PhD FACMHN is Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Professor of Mental Health Nursing at the University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Health. He was recently appointed Honorary Director of the Halla /Newcastle Centre for Problem Based Learning, Cheju Halla College, Republic of Korea. Professor Hazelton has a research background in both qualitative and quantitative methods, has published widely on mental health and mental health nursing.

Judith Henderson

Judith Henderson is the Area Professional Director Physiotherapy for the Hunter New England Area Health Service, the Director Physiotherapy, Greater Newcastle Acute Hospital Network and the Acting Service Manager Allied Health and Operations Manager Allied Health for the Greater Newcastle Acute Hospital Network. She is also the Director Physiotherapy at John Hunter Hospital and the Professional Director of Physiotherapy at John Hunter Children's Hospital. Ms Henderson chairs the NSW Department Health Physiotherapy Advisors Network and is a Conjoint Senior Lecturer in physiotherapy at the University of Newcastle.

Professor Scott Holmes

Professor Holmes is the Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Newcastle and a Convenor of the Australian Competition Policy Research Alliance (ACPRA). Providing a unique research and consulting centre, ACPRA brings together local, national and international researchers, and leading experts from the public and private sectors. In 2006, Professor Holmes was been named the Best Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year, at the Business/Higher Education Round Table Awards.

Coral Levett

Coral Levett is the NSW Nurses' Association President. MS Levett is also the President of the Australian Nurses Federation and has been actively involved across a range of issues affecting the nursing profession. She has also been involved in the education of the health care profession holding the position of Manager, Staff Education at South East Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service.

Associate Professor Brian McCaughan 

Associate Professor Brian McCaughan is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and his major clinical interest is the management of lung cancer. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and held a number of positions with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Professor McCaughan was President of the NSW Medical Board for five years and is currently Chair of the Sustainable Access Health Priority Taskforce and a member of the Health Care Advisory Council for NSW Health.

Professor Carol Pollock

Professor Carol Pollock trained in renal medicine at Royal North Shore Hospital after graduating from the University of NSW in 1981. In 1991 she was appointed as a senior lecturer at RNSH and to the Chair of Medicine in 2000. Carol is currently Chair of the Area Health Advisory Council for the NSCCAHS, and was appointed Chairman of the GMCT in early 2007. She is a founding director and currently Chairman of BioMed North, a company supporting the development of intellectual property out of Area Health Services, and sits on the boards of several philanthropic organisations supporting medical research.

Liz Rummery AM

Liz Rummery was Co-chair of the Rural Health Implementation Group which prepared the NSW Rural Health Report (released in 2002) and is currently Co-chair of NSW Rural and Remote Health Priority Taskforce which is the peak advisory group on rural health for the Department and Minister. Mrs Rummery has extensive experience in health as Chair of the Northern Rivers Area Health Service Board until 2004, a Director on the Board of HCF and Catholic Health Care Limited, and former Deputy Chancellor of Southern Cross University. Mrs Rummery recently retired from legal practice after 30 years specialising in Property and Commercial Law.

Professor Graeme Stewart

Professor Graeme Stewart is Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney. He is the founding head of the Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy at Westmead Hospital and founding director of the Institute for Immunology and Allergy Research, one of the four founding research groups of the Westmead Millennium Institute. Professor Stewart is a teacher, researcher and clinician.

Associate Professor Peter Zelas

Associate Professor Peter Zelas has a long association with Blacktown Hospital as a surgeon, having received his specialist training in Australia, United States and United Kingdom. Peter was awarded the OAM in 2006 for services to Medicine in Western Sydney and in particular in his roles at Blacktown Hospital and in the field of colorectal surgery. As a surgeon, Peter has worked with Médecins Sans Frontières in Africa, Indonesia and Nepal. Professor Zelas is the Deputy Chair of the Medical Staff Council, the Chair of the Sydney West Health Advisory Council and the Clinical Dean at the University of Western Sydney School of Medicine.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au