Page 4861 - Week 16 - Thursday, 29 November 1990
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part of this program of reform, the departments of Health and Education were abolished, to be replaced by a Ministry of Health, Education and the Arts and an ACT Board of Health. Broad-scale policy development and planning across my portfolio has been brought together in the ministry. The intention is for this ministry to be small and efficient and to be concerned with the consistency of high level policy and planning across the human services within my portfolio.
The ACT Board of Health will take over most of the responsibilities of the old Department of Health and the now disbanded interim board of directors of the Royal Canberra Hospital. The ACT Health Services Bill has been developed to give effect to this decision, that is, the creation of a Board of Health. This Government has made a major commitment to improving the quality and standards of health services through the public hospital redevelopment program. It has also recognised through its range of policies, for example, on tobacco and aged care, the significance of public health and community based health services. This important change in the management of health services will achieve a more effective integration of hospital and community health services.
The Bill is broadly modelled on the area health board legislation of New South Wales, which has been in place and supported by successive governments since October 1986. The objectives of New South Wales area health boards include: establishing and maintaining an appropriate balance in the provision and use of resources for health protection, health promotion, health education and treatment services; achieving and maintaining adequate standards of patient care; and adapting and implementing all necessary measures, including systems of planning, management and quality control, as will best ensure the efficient and economic operation and use of its resources in the provision of health services.
The size of each of the areas in metropolitan Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong is about the equivalent of the Australian Capital Territory. This factor is recognised as important, because it provides a large enough population base to allow appropriate flexibility in the management of resources in the most efficient way possible. This is particularly important where planning for the health care needs of the population must increasingly take into account the shifting patterns of technology and treatment practices, and the movement of clients from hospital to community based care. New South Wales is not alone in recognising the effectiveness of the model. The advantages of similar forms of administrative structure in the delivery of health services are presently under active consideration, in both Queensland and Western Australia, and legislation is currently being debated in Tasmania.
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