23 December 2008

Itinerary for health action plan forums now being finalised

Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, said today that NSW Health’s Sydney, regional and rural forums to consult clinicians and the community about a health action plan following the release of the Garling Report were now being finalised.

Mr Della Bosca said he would be attending forums on the Central Coast, in Western Sydney, the Hunter, the North Coast, Central West, the Illawarra and the South East of the State to hear as many views as possible about how to improve our public hospitals.

"Dates and exact locations are still being finalised but I want to ensure I get to meet and talk with as many doctors, nurses and community representatives as I can to see how we can improve the way we work together and use tax-payers’ money more effectively," the Minister said.

"The Government acknowledges the contribution of the community members, patients, families and staff who assisted Commissioner Garling over the past 10 months to bring his report together.

"But now we’re getting focussed on the hard work of developing an action plan in response to the recommendations.

"A key message from Commissioner Garling is teamwork - everyone involved in health care needs to work together to improve patient care.

"We are working hard to involve the very people who make our health system work and the people they care for to make sure we get the action plan right," Mr Della Bosca said.

"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.

"We need to better manage the sharply increasing demand on health services, an ageing population, rising healthcare costs and workforce shortages.

"The Rees Government is committed to delivering a health action plan by March next year in response to the Garling Report.

"We have also launched a special website to help clinicians, other health staff and the community to provide feedback on how to best improve the public hospital system.

"The new website - www.healthactionplan.nsw.gov.au - combined with the community visits early next year, will enable us to receive a wide range of views on how to implement the Garling recommendations," the Minister said. 

"The website contains an easy to use feedback section to allow people to provide general views on the report or the option to comment specifically on each of the chapters," Mr Della Bosca 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 giving the community and clinicians their say so we can establish an action plan as soon as possible next year," the Minister added.

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