Wide-scale behavioural changes from Queensland's successful COVID-19 response will be harnessed to deliver a more united, innovative, agile and responsive health system.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D'Ath today released the Unleashing the Potential: an open and equitable health system report, which will serve as an exciting roadmap to further strengthen Queensland's health system.
The report was developed with input from clinicians, health experts, consumers, unions and other stakeholders.
"We want to capitalise on the successful initiatives undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic to create an even better health system for all Queenslanders," Ms D'Ath said.
"Throughout the pandemic we've seen increased use of virtual care, more collaboration to develop new models of care and greater uptake of flexible work arrangements.
"More staff have been empowered to work to their full scope of practice and we have also seen a reduction in bureaucracy and an increase in access to and sharing of data.
"We're now in a unique position to further develop and embed these innovations to unleash more positive change in Queensland's public health care system."
The report was authored by the Reform Planning Group (RPG), chaired by Meegan Fitzharris, and made up of health experts from across the health system, including Adrian Carson, Shaun Drummond, Melissa Fox, Professor Sabina Knight, Professor Keith McNeil, Beth Mohle, Dr John Pickering and Dr Stephen Duckett.
It outlines an integrated set of recommendations which will harness the positive gains from the initial COVID-19 pandemic response and embed change by creating a more 'open' health system.
The report outlines 17 recommendations focused on the following key areas to accelerate health system transformation:
- Establish health equity in access to services and health outcomes.
- Create a high-value, integrated health system.
- Develop an innovative system and empowered workforce.
- Establish system-level accountability to enable greater collaboration.
This report builds on the Palaszczuk Government's record level of health investment with a budget of $22.24 billion in 2021-22 and an additional investment of $263.7 million through the Care4Qld initiatives.
"Our health leaders and health workforce know that innovation is key to the delivery of quality healthcare," Ms D'Ath said.
"Throughout the pandemic, we have harnessed Queensland Health's innovative spirit to continue to provide world class health care during a public health emergency.
"We will be consulting with stakeholders on the recommendations of this report to see how we can best harness and unleash the potential of our health system into the future."
RPG Chair Meegan Fitzharris said input from the Reform Planning Group and the subsequent report would act as a blueprint in delivering essential healthcare reform.
"In developing this report, the Reform Planning Group consulted with a range of clinicians, consumers, unions and other stakeholders," Ms Fitzharris said.
"The public release of this report will initiate a broader conversation of how we can drive further reform of our health system, using the lessons learnt throughout the pandemic."
The report can be located at: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/strategic-direction/reform-planning-group
