Eight leading health experts, consumers and advocates have been appointed to oversee wide-ranging reforms to ensure a sustainable future for health care in Western Australia
The Sustainable Health Review (SHR) Independent Oversight Committee membership has been endorsed by Government, and will play a pivotal role, working with the health system to usher in a raft of initiatives to transform the health system, with an emphasis on community care supported by a modern and innovative hospital system.
The Committee will be an impartial body, reporting to the Health Minister, to provide advice and assurance on the status and progress of the SHR implementation being led by the WA health system and ensure the perspectives of varied stakeholders continue to be represented in guiding reform.
It will be independently chaired by international expert Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor and its first meeting will be held this month.
The SHR final report was released in April and outlined 30 recommendations under eight enduring strategies, as a platform for future health reform, designed to deliver safe, high-quality and financially sustainable health care across the State.
The McGowan Government committed $26.4 million towards SHR implementation and initial projects, including $3.3 million allocated to the crucial first steps in planning the relocation of King Edward Memorial Hospital. A further $230 million was then committed towards the construction of a new women's and maternity hospital at the QEII site, replacing King Edward Memorial Hospital.
The Department of Health and Health Service Providers have spent the months since the SHR's release planning the implementation of the report's recommendations and progressing early initiatives.
The SHR Independent Oversight Committee will be supported by the Sustainable Health Implementation Unit, which will also support the Health Service Providers and Department of Health in implementing the SHR recommendations.
More information about the SHR can be found at http://www.health.wa.gov.au/sustainablehealthreview
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"The McGowan Government is committed to ensuring that our health system is among the best in the world and we must continue to address the significant financial pressures, along with a growing and ageing population, increasing chronic disease and health inequity.
"The SHR was a key election commitment under the Government's putting patient's first initiative and the establishment of this committee addresses Recommendation 30 of the SHR final report.
"Having an oversight committee of this calibre is an important milestone towards continued reform which will continue to change and challenge the ways our heath care is delivered.
"The members have significant knowledge and experience as advocates for health service delivery and will regularly report on the status and progress being made across the system.
"The oversight committee will play a key role in ensuring the intent, outcomes and benefits of the Sustainable Health Review become a reality for the WA community."
Sustainable Health Independent Oversight Committee
- Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor (Chair) - Former Medical Director of the NHS Confederation; Medical Director of Monitor; Executive Medical Director Leeds Teaching Hospitals; and Trust Special Administrator of Mid-Staffordshire Foundation Trust.
- Dr Richard Choong - Clinical Representative - General Practitioner, WA Primary Health Alliance Board Chair, Chair of Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited and past president of the Australian Medical Association (WA).
- Ms Margaret Doherty - Consumer Advocate - Founder and conveyor of Mental Health Matters 2, current member of the WA Mental Health Advisory Council and mental health advocate and consumer representative on a number of other committees.
- Ms Meredith Hammat - Employee Advocate - has an extensive history representing Western Australian worker and is the current Secretary of Unions WA. Employee nominee on the Sustainable Health Review Panel between 2017-2019.
- Mr Tim Marney -. Former Western Australian Under Treasurer for close to a decade; Mental Health Commissioner for Western Australia for more than five years with wide-ranging experience in economics, finance and human services.
- Ms Lesley Nelson - Regional and Non-Government Representative - has held executive positions in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation in both WA and NSW and current Chief Executive Officer of South West Aboriginal Medical Service.
- Ms Elizabeth Prime - Clinical Representative - Director of Nursing at the Joondalup Health Campus, Adjunct Associate Professor at Curtin University, Nursing, midwifery and Paramedicine and member of the Australian College of Nursing.
- Professor Fiona Wood - WA health system clinical representative - Professor Wood is one of Australia's most innovative and respected surgeons and researchers, who has pioneered research and technology development in burns medicine. Her many positions include Director of the Burns Service of Western Australia.
