15 December 2008

First ministerial forum to improve hospitals across NSW

More than 100 doctors, nurses and other health workers and community representatives will converge on Redfern today (Monday 15 December) to take part in the first ministerial forum to discuss ways to improve hospitals across the State.

NSW Health Minister, John Della Bosca, said the forum was the start of an intensive consultation process to work out how to implement the recommendations in the recently released Garling Report into Acute Care Services in NSW Public Hospitals.

“The Government acknowledges the contribution of the many staff, patients and their families who assisted Commissioner Garling over the past 10 months,” the Minister said.

“We’re not wasting any time in developing an action plan to respond to the recommendations.
“A key message from Commissioner Garling is teamwork - everyone involved in health care needs to work together to improve patient care. That’s what today’s consultation is
all about.

“It is the first step in a series of formal and informal meetings across the State which will involve the very people who make our health system work and the people they care for.
Their views are fundamental to getting the State Government’s action plan right.

“We’re also developing a special website - www.healthactionplan.nsw.gov.au - to make it even easier for people to comment on the Garling Report’s recommendations.

“And some of the key sessions from today’s forum will be available to download from the website soon,” Mr Della Bosca said.

Today’s participants will include:

• General Practitioners,
• Nurses,
• Midwives,
• Allied health workers,
• Unions,
• Aboriginal and other community groups,
• Area Health Services,
• The Clinical Excellence Commission,
• The Cancer Institute, and
• The Institute of Medical Education and Training,

“While Commissioner Garling describes the health care provided in NSW and Australia as among the best in the world, he is also very clear about the challenges ahead of us as we respond to sharply increasing demand, an ageing population, rising healthcare costs and workforce shortages,” Mr Della Bosca said.

“The State Government is committed to delivering a health action plan by March next year in response to the Garling Report,” the Minister said.

“Commissioner Garling has provided the Government and the people of NSW with the most comprehensive review of the public health system in generations.

“We’re not wasting any time in getting our response underway before Christmas and the Government will be maintaining that momentum in the New Year,” he added.

Today’s forum will be held at the Australian Technology Park in Eveleigh.

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