The final report on Queensland’s health system, which sets out the process for the abolition of Queensland Health and its replacement by a number of smaller agencies, has been released.

 

Announcing the report, the Premier Anna Bligh said it details the single most significant shake-up of Health in Queensland ever undertaken and the largest decentralisation of a public sector agency in Queensland’s history.

 

The health system outlined in the report involves:

  • Health and Hospitals Queensland (HHQ) to lead policy development and innovation in the key areas of hospital and clinical service delivery. (Estimated staff numbers 1751)
  • Health Corporate Services Authority (HCSA) to be responsible for providing corporate services that better support frontline health staff, including functions such as finance, human resourcing systems and ICT . (Estimated staff numbers 4217)
  • Core frontline health service delivery through 17 Local Health and Hospital Networks - services delivered by the community, for the community, in the community.
  • Additional Health and Hospital Network will also be established to provide clinical services that need to be delivered at a state-wide level, such as pathology and radiology.

Premier Bligh said that from July 2012, as part of the national health reform project health care will be managed locally by local networks.

 

“But now we will split the old Queensland Health into two new government entities under separate Director-Generals, who will provide dedicated leadership and defined accountabilities.

 

“HHQ will lead policy development and innovation in the key areas of hospital and clinical service delivery. They will focus on initiatives such as continuing the State’s record breaking waiting list reductions.”

 

Health and Hospitals Queensland (HHQ) will be led by Dr Tony O’Connell, the recently appointed Director General of the old Queensland Health.

 

The Health Corporate Services Authority (HCSA) will be responsible for providing corporate services that support frontline health staff, including functions such as finance, human resourcing systems and ICT. Ms Helen Gluer will be appointed to lead the transition to the new agency while CEO is recruited.

 

The Premier said that core frontline health service delivery will now be done through 17 Local Health and Hospital Networks.

 

“Under our plan an additional Health and Hospital Network will also be established to provide clinical services that need to be delivered at a statewide level, such as pathology and radiology,” said the Premier.

 

“Like the other LHHNs, this too will have a Governing Council and will involve transferring around 2650 full-time equivalent staff away from the current Queensland Health corporate office to support its work.”

 

Ms Bligh said the two new agencies and local health and hospital networks will be in place from July 1 2012.

 

The report, prepared by KPMG's Shane Solomon, is available here.