Queensland Health

Queensland Health is the department of the Government of Queensland responsible for operating and administering the public health system of the Australian State of Queensland. It is responsible to the State's Minister for Health Stephen Robertson and its Director-General is Ms Uschi Schreiber.

Queensland Health was restructured toward the end of 2005 from 38 "health districts" to 20. There were a number consolidations particularly in the urban areas with the formation of the "Northside" and "Southside" Districts. Northside District includes 3 major hospital facilities including The Prince Charles, Redcliffe and Caboolture Hospitals while Southside brings the Logan, Redlands, Beaudesert and Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospitals together. Somewhat strangely one large facility lies within the geographic boundaries of both Northside and Southside but remain independent entities or Districts in their own right. Within Northside lies the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) and on Southside lies the Princess Alexandra Hospital or regional centre. Queensland Health has approximately 65,000 employees across the state.

In the mid-1940s Queensland was the first state in Australia to introduce free and universal public hospital treatment, a policy that some other states followed.

History and Developments
Replacement senior staff appointed in late 2005 included:
 * General Managers, Area Health Services
 * Terry Mehan, Central Area Health Service - Mr Mehan was formerly a Zonal Manager for Queensland Health in North Queensland and prior to that General Manager of the Hunter Area Health Service in New South Wales. Initially appointed to the Area Manager of Central Area following a long period of secondment as Central Area Health Service Manager, Mr Mehan moved to the Central Area permanently.
 * Roxanne Ramsay, Northern Area Health Service - Ms Ramsay was formerly the Director for Country Health in the South Australian Department of Health.
 * Executive Director, Policy, Planning and Resourcing
 * Professor Andrew Wilson - formerly Professor of Public Health in the School of Population Health at the University of Queensland. He also worked for New South Wales Health for six years in the positions of Chief Health Officer and Deputy Director-General.
 * Executive Director, Reform and Development Unit
 * Professor Stephen Duckett - was formerly the Professor of Health Policy, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, and pro Vice-chancellor (Learning and Teaching) at La Trobe University.
 * Chief Health Officer
 * Dr Jeanette Young
 * Executive Director, Corporate Services
 * Michael Kalimnios - formerly from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital

Health Commission
In response to the Forster Review of Queensland Health Systems an independent Health Commission will be created incorporating the existing Health Rights Commission to allow patients to lodge complaints about health matters. The annual cost of the Commission will commence at $7.7million,

The Minister stated (5 October 2005) that "The Forster Review found while Queensland Health's policy reflects contemporary best practice, its implementation has been poor and there is a lack of uniformity and quality in complaints systems across the State. People are unsure how to lodge complaints, staff don't feel confident in handling them and there is an inadequate system for informing Queensland Health about complaints or concerns."

Complaints unresolved after 30 days will be escalated to a Health Commission which is alleged to be independent of the Department, though details of any independence from government involvement is less clear. There are to be patient support officers and health district Complaints Coordinators supported by a Complaints Manager in each of the 3 Area Health Services.

The Commission will apparently have three Directors, one of whom will be responsible for the existing Health Rights Commission functions which include handling of complaints.

The government will also establish a state-wide complaints database to record all complaints and compliments.

The Health Commission will also have a role in the development and implementation of quality, safety and clinical practice standards throughout Queensland's public and private services and monitor best practice clinical governance and patient safety.

It will be subject to review by an all-party Parliamentary Committee after its first full year of operation.