Central West Health Chief Executive Anthony West said health services received an amount of growth funding this year as part of their annual budget to use for approved purposes.
Feedback from the community has helped inform the selection of several new initiatives that will support ongoing Central West Hospital and Health Service activities.
Central West Health Chief Executive Anthony West said health services received an amount of growth funding this year as part of their annual budget to use for approved purposes.
“This has allowed us to direct recurrent funding of about $863,000 into a range of additional localised initiatives we feel will best serve our communities on an ongoing basis,’’ he said.
“We selected these through an expression of interest process from staff that was informed by the findings of the joint health regional needs assessment, as well as feedback from facilities, community organisations, and the Central West Community Advisory Networks (CANs) that are present in many of our towns.
“This feedback was used to help build successful business cases for the allocation of funding towards the creation of several new positions throughout our health service, as well as other initiatives.
“The new positions include a permanent second Cancer Care nurse to support our Cancer Care Coordinator following conclusion of a temporary 12-month contracted position.
“There’s also a second speech pathologist which will allow us to undertake additional outreach work, as well as additional pharmacy staff which will also support our outreach pharmacy services and more oral health staff.’’
Mr West said funding also was approved for:
- The appointment of a second senior nurse at Boulia Primary Health Centre to help with backfill and staff workloads;
- Additional operational staff at Longreach to meet the needs of the expanded facility following the opening of the Central West Renal Unit and expanded pharmacy, pathology and allied health areas;
- Additional staff to support and expand recruitment and retention of Allied Health staff and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers, as well as a manager to oversee the health service’s expanding staff accommodation portfolio.
- An aged care officer to support the HHS’s increasing requirements in aged care services.
- Additional administrative staff to support clinical work across the region.
In partnership with the Western Queensland PHN, Central West Health also plans to expand medical services in the far western corridor of the region to help manage chronic disease.
“In addition to the new staff positions, we have also been able to fund the purchase of new furniture for the staff accommodation currently being built in Longreach and Winton, as well as a number of automated external defibrillators, for our offices, as well as some of our clinics,’’ Mr West said.
He said community feedback had been instrumental in helping inform some of the approved initiatives.
“Consumer feedback, especially through our Consumer Advisory Networks (CANs), is an excellent way for residents to get involved in and contribute to healthcare planning, delivery and review of services,’’ he said.
“Consumer involvement helps to balance the views of our healthcare professionals, which enables us to provide health services that truly reflect the needs of our community.
“CAN membership allows local residents who have that broader community perspective to step into the health system and suggest important changes across a multitude of areas.’’
Longreach Hospital CAN Chair John Palmer said he was particularly pleased at the appointment of a second Cancer Care Nurse.
Mr Palmer is Chair of the Longreach Hospital CAN, as well as Chair of the overall Central West CAN Chair Group.
“Listening to the community and my fellow CAN members and regional CAN chairs, it was obvious that they perceived the temporary Cancer Care Coordinator role as having delivered significant value during their 12-month temporary appointment,’’ he said.
“As such, we felt it was worth providing valuable feedback that the health service could use to support a business case for the appointment of a second nurse to support the existing Cancer Care Coordinator on a permanent basis if there was funding available for it.
“The fact that this has now been approved shows how important it is for the community to get directly involved through their local CANs in helping develop and frame health service planning and decision-making.’’
Mr West said the purpose of health facility CANs was to engage with their communities and provide feedback to the Central West Hospital and Health Board and management about community matters.
“The CANs help identify the community’s health needs, allow information to be shared regarding service delivery and allow consumers and community to have input into the planning, development and delivery of public health services in their area,’’ he said.
“Through such a process, each health facility can receive ongoing broad community input into the development of services.
“CAN members also play many other important roles in their local health services about which the community may not be aware.
“For instance, the CAN Chair often sits on recruitment panels for the directors of nursing and other staff of their local health facility.
“They also act as conduits of information between their health service and the community.
“So, joining their local CAN is an excellent way for residents to become involved in helping guide the future service directions of their community’s health facility.’’
ENDS
For further information contact:
James Guthrie
Principal Media Officer, Rural and Remote Qld Media Unit, Strategic Communications Department of Health
(07) 3708 5379