History – It all started in 1999
In July 1999, the NSW Minister for Health, the Hon. Craig Knowles MP, established the NSW Health Council chaired by John Menadue (AO). The focus of the group was to review the NSW Health system and deliver a plan to the Minister that would improve the quality of health care services, better manage health care costs and improve health outcomes for patients.
The Greater Metropolitan Services Implementation Group (GMSIG)
In March 2000, the NSW Health Council presented its report, identifying equity of access to quality health services as a priority in metropolitan health care.
As part of the Government Action Plan, the Minister convened the Greater Metropolitan Services Implementation Group (GMSIG) to seek advice from clinicians and health care consumers over a nine month period. Consisting of 42 clinicians, managers and consumers, the GMSIG consulted with over 1,000 health care professionals to learn from grass-roots clinicians about their concerns. They identified a number of high priority areas in the Metropolitan area which needed attention.
In June 2001, the GMSIG released a report identifying 162 recommendations for NSW health services, which were adopted as Government policy.
Detailed plans were developed and funding sought from the Department of Health for service improvements, to benefit patients throughout the greater metropolitan region. The Government Response to the GMSIG Report details the next steps.
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