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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-04-04 Daily Xml
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HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (14:57): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Industrial Relations, representing the Minister for Health, a question regarding the Health and Community Services Advisory Council.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: In 2008 the government established the Health Performance Council to independently monitor the performance of the South Australian health system. In its 2010 report, which reviewed the public health system's performance from 2008 to 2010, the council stated:

The Health Performance Council (HPC) was unable to determine how SA Health develops and implements strategies to change trends evidenced by consumer complaints. SA Health indicated that complaints to the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner are monitored regularly and the HPC looks forward to reviewing the systemic changes that occur in response to complaints and/or feedback received.

In 2010 ZED Business Management were commissioned by SA Health to conduct an operational review of the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner. The report states that:

There appears to be a high percentage of administrative effort largely due to poor systems and labour intensive practices required to process complaints.

The quality of data within HCSCC is poor and incomplete impacting on the HCSCC's ability to effectively report, monitor trends and make informed decisions; and

There is no defined and agreed list of success criteria to measure and monitor the performance and outcomes of the HCSCC.

The Health and Community Services Complaints Act 2004 provides for the establishment of the Health and Community Services Advisory Council. The function of the council is to advise the minister and the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner on the operation of the act, on how to educate the general public, on how to make a complaint in relation to health or community services, and any issues arising from the resolution of such a complaint.

In the 2010-11 annual report of the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner, Stephanie Miller, the presiding member of the Health and Community Services Advisory Council, stated that the advisory council 'recognises and appreciates the breadth, depth and high quality of the HCSCC's work'. The council further states:

the advisory council notes the HCSCC's work to ensure that complaints lead to improvements in the safety and quality of health and community services in South Australia.

The PRESIDENT: Question time is for questions. Matters of interest are after question time.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: My questions are:

1. Can the minister advise how the advisory council came to the view that the HCSCC's work was of high quality, especially given the comments outlined above from the Health Performance Council and the operational review?

2. Can the minister advise what the advisory council is referring to with regard to their comments on improvements in safety and quality of health and community services resulting from the HCSCC?

3. Can the minister give details of these improvements in safety and quality?

4. Can the minister advise how the improvements were recorded, given that the Health Performance Council was unable to determine how SA Health develops strategies to change trends evidenced by consumer complaints?

5. Was the advisory council aware of the operational review findings and, if so, what is its response?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:01): I thank the member for his very important questions. I will refer them to the Minister for Health in another place and get an answer as soon as I can.

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