Country Health SA Local Health Network - 2018-19 Annual Report
22 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000
Contact phone number: (08) 8226 6120
Contact email: Health.RSSCommunications@sa.gov.au
ISSN: 2201-0459
Date presented to Minister: 30 September 2019
To:
Hon Stephen Wade MLC
Minister for Health and Wellbeing
This annual report will be presented to Parliament to meet the statutory reporting requirements of the Public Sector Act 2009, the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987 and the Health Care Act 2008, and the requirements of Premier and Cabinet Circular PC013 Annual Reporting .
This report is verified to be accurate for the purposes of annual reporting to the Parliament of South Australia.
Submitted on behalf of the Country Health SA Local Health Network Inc by:
Rebecca Graham
Chief Executive Officer
Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network
Signed, 27/09/2019
From the Chief Executive Officer
Country Health SA transitioned to six new regional local health networks (LHNs) and the Rural Support Service on 1 July 2019. This report provides the opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary achievements and legacy of Country Health SA.
From Country Health SA’s earliest days in 2008, the needs of country people accessing healthcare became the focus of its service planning. This meant providing services close to home as safely possible, whether that be through improving access to existing services, supporting those with a continued need to travel, or wherever appropriate and possible bringing specialist clinical services into country.
As Country Health SA expanded services closer to home, often enabled by the innovative use of digital health technology, it was recognised for outstanding services such as renal, cardiac and cancer services, and acute stroke management. The extraordinary expansion and specialisation of mental health services, dedication to infection control and improving standards of maternity and neonatal care, and the enthusiastic embrace of technology to increase accessibility to specialised clinical care including programs such as iCCnet, Virtual Clinical Care and the South Australian Virtual Emergency Service (SAVES) were also recognised and celebrated.
The work in Aboriginal health and reconciliation has been truly exceptional, with highlights which included ensuring that services were tailored specifically to the needs of local Aboriginal populations, the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program, the Aboriginal Community and Consumer Engagement Strategy, and the Reconciliation Action Plan.
Country Health SA was one of the most innovative, efficient and successful LHNs in the state. Some of the performance highlights include consistently meeting targets for all emergency department ‘seen on time’ triage categories, and elective surgery ‘timely admission’ and ‘overdue patient’ categories.
The new regional LHN Chief Executive Officers, Governing Board Chairs and Board Members all share a passion for ensuring consumers receive the best possible health care. I am confident that the high standards and consistencies achieved through operating as one organisation can form part of the strong foundation of each of the new regional LHNs.
Submitted on behalf of Country Health SA by:
Rebecca Graham
Chief Executive Officer
Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network
Contents
- Overview: about the agency
- Our strategic focus
- Our organisational structure
- Changes to the agency
- Our Minister
- Our Executive team
- Legislation administered by the agency
- Other related agencies (within the Minister’s area/s of responsibility)
- The agency’s performance
- Performance at a glance
- Agency contribution to whole of government objectives
- Agency specific objectives and performance
- Corporate performance summary
- Employment opportunity programs
- Agency performance management and development systems
- Work health and safety, and return to work programs
- Financial performance
- Financial performance at a glance
- Consultants disclosure
- Contractors disclosure
- Other information
- Risk management
- Risk and audit at a glance
- Fraud detected in the agency
- Strategies implemented to control and prevent fraud
- Whistle-blowers disclosure
- Reporting required under any other act or regulation
- Reporting required under the Carers’ Recognition Act 2005
- Public complaints
- Number of public complaints reported (as required by the Ombudsman)
- Appendix: Audited financial statements 2018-19 (PDF 2.5MB)
Overview: about the agency
Our strategic focus
Our Purpose
Country Health South Australia Local Health Network (Country Health SA) delivered a comprehensive range of health services throughout 61 public hospitals/health services in South Australia, according to population needs, focussing on integrating its service delivery with metropolitan hospitals and other service providers in country locations.
Our Vision
To be the best rural health service
Our Values
- Customer Focus
- Collaboration
- Caring
- Creativity
- Courage
Our functions, objectives and deliverables
Country Health SA provided a wide range of public acute, residential aged care, community health and mental health services to country-based South Australians.
Country Health SA’s key objectives were to:
- build innovative and high-performing health service models that deliver outstanding consumer experience and health outcomes
- pursue excellence in all that we do
- create a vibrant, values-based place to work and learn
- harness the power of partnerships to improve the effectiveness of services
- elevate and enhance the level of health in country communities.
Country Health SA’s key deliverables were to:
- provide safe, high-quality health and aged care services
- engage with the local community and local clinicians
- ensure patient care respects the ethnic, cultural and religious rights, views, values and expectations of all peoples
- ensure the health needs of Aboriginal people are considered in all health plans, programs and models of care
- meet all legislation, regulations, Department for Health and Wellbeing policies, and agreements.
Our organisational structure
Country Health SA was managed by the Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who reported to and was accountable to the Chief Executive, SA Health. The operational regions and strategic directorates at 30 June 2019 are described in the organisational chart below.
Changes to the agency
The State Government established 10 local health networks (LHNs), each with its own governing board, on 1 July 2019. From this date Country Health SA was dissolved and its assets, rights and liabilities were transferred to six new regional LHNs.
During 2018-19 there were the following changes to the agency’s structure and objectives as a result of internal reviews or machinery of government changes:
- The Governance Reform directorate was established to support the transition of Country Health SA from one LHN to six regional LHNs.
- The Service Improvement, Strategy and Reform Directorate was disbanded and its functions devolved to the Corporate Services Directorate and the Governance Reform Directorate.
- From 1 January 2019, the six positions of Regional Director were abolished and six new Deputy Chief Executive Officer positions were established to support the transition from one LHN to six regional LHNs.
Our Minister
Hon Stephen Wade MLC is the Minister for Health and Wellbeing in South Australia.
The Minister oversees health, wellbeing, mental health, ageing well, substance abuse and suicide prevention.
Our Executive team
As at 30 June 2019 the Executive team consisted of:
- Interim Chief Executive Officer – Rebecca Graham
- Interim Chief Operating Officer – Wayne Champion
- Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Barossa Hills Fleurieu – Debbie Martin
- Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Eyre and Far North – Verity Paterson
- Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Flinders and Upper North – Ros McRae
- Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Riverland Mallee Coorong – Wayne Champion
- Deputy Chief Executive Officer, South East – Ngaire Buchanan
- Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Yorke and Northern – Roger Kirchner
- Executive Director, Medical Services – Dr Hendrika Meyer
- Interim Executive Director, Allied Health and Community – Melissa Koch
- Acting Executive Director, Nursing and Midwifery – Annie Price
- Executive Director, Aboriginal Health – Terry Sparrow
- Executive Director, Mental Health Strategic Operations – Umit Agis
- Clinical Director, Mental Health – Dr Brian McKenny
- Chief Finance Officer – Steven Brown
- Acting Executive Director, People and Culture – Mandy Palumbo
- Executive Director, Corporate Services – Brett Paradine
- Director, Country Health Governance Reform – Brett Humphrys.
Legislation administered by the agency
None.
Other related agencies (within the Minister’s area/s of responsibility)
- Country Health SA Local Health Network Health Advisory Council Inc. (Governing Council)
- Department for Health and Wellbeing
- Central Adelaide Local Health Network
- Northern Adelaide Local Health Network
- Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
- Women’s and Children’s Health Network
- South Australian Ambulance Service
- Office for Ageing Well
The agency’s performance
Performance at a glance
In 2018-19 Country Health SA continued its strong reputation for achieving key performance areas including:
- meeting targets for all emergency department ‘seen on time’ triage categories
- meeting targets for all elective surgery ‘timely admission’ and ‘overdue patient’ categories
- meeting targets for mental health services such as readmission rates and timeliness of care in the community
- achieving improvements in other key performance indicators including average length of stay, same day elective surgery rate, and the percentage of potentially preventable admissions
- reducing avoidable acute activity through enhanced community-based and virtual health services
- all Country Health SA hospitals and health services meeting national standards for safety and quality
- meeting targets for consumer experience
- growing treatment services closer to home including acute stroke treatment, chemotherapy and renal dialysis
- delivering services tailored specifically to the needs of local Aboriginal populations, such as the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program, Aboriginal Community and Consumer Engagement Strategy, and Reconciliation Action Plan
- delivering investment on capital upgrades and equipment in country hospitals and health services
- delivering community, in-home and residential services within the Country Health Connect brand
- effectively preparing for the governance reforms to the public health system through the establishment of six regional LHNs, including governing boards.
Agency contribution to whole of government objectives
Objective - More jobs
The commencement of the Rural Health Workforce Strategy was a critical achievement, contributing investment towards:
- improving services for long-term, high-quality maternity care
- providing further specialised training for allied health professionals
- providing additional training and career opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners
- providing medical workforce support grants, supporting recruitment and retention of GPs in rural communities
- expanding training opportunities for community support workers
- providing mental health education for suicide prevention and patient management
- supporting rural community nursing workforce to manage more complex clients in rural areas
- providing rural dental workshops, promoting a rural career for dental professionals
- expanding the Digital Telehealth Network
- providing simulation and training equipment.
Objective - Lower costs
Costs for consumers were reduced through delivering programs such as:
- the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme
- timely elective surgery in rural communities
- increasing access to telehealth services
- home-based chronic disease monitoring.
Objective - Better services
Significant service outcomes achieved included the following:
- Acute stroke treatment was made available 24/7 at the three country stroke services, Mount Gambier, Riverland General (Berri) and Whyalla Hospitals, with additional sites including Port Lincoln, Port Augusta and Port Pirie Hospitals also now able to provide clot-busting medication for eligible stroke patients, guided by a neurologist.
- 30 hospitals are now supported by the South Australian Virtual Emergency Service (SAVES), ensuring rural GPs and nurses have access to remote medical support overnight when required.
- The majority of country public hospitals in South Australia now have access to high-quality specialist advice via the Digital Telehealth Network, including through the MedSTAR emergency medical retrieval service.
- The expansion of regional cancer services has enabled more country cancer patients to receive chemotherapy treatment closer to home, with the South Coast (Victor Harbor) chemotherapy unit now able to provide medium complexity chemotherapy, in addition to the existing medium complexity units at Whyalla, Mount Gambier and Port Pirie. The expansion of cancer services has provided an increase of 1.4 FTE of medical oncologists, and 2.0 FTE of cancer care coordinators.
- The Borderline Personality Disorder Collaborative, referred to as BPD Co, was launched in June, and now provides specialist, statewide, community-based, recovery-focussed care to people living with borderline personality disorder in South Australia.
- Statewide telerehabilitation services were delivered to people in their own homes via an iPad or computer.
- Clients with chronic conditions were supported through the My Health Point of Care Innovative Technologies Trial (PoCiTT) home monitoring program.
- Design and planning progressed for upgrading facilities including the renal unit at Mount Gambier, the new 36-bed aged care facility at Strathalbyn and District Health Service, and the emergency department at Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital.
- The Aged Care Assessment Program ensured that older people could gain timely access to residential aged care, home care packages and transitional care packages.
Agency specific objectives and performance
Agency objectives | Indicators | Performance |
---|---|---|
Clinical services reform |
|
|
Improving access to health services in our communities |
|
|
Hospital services |
|
|
Continuous improvement of quality and safety |
|
|
Aboriginal health programs |
|
|
Improving mental health outcomes |
|
|
Aged care |
|
|
Corporate performance summary
Country Health SA achieved key corporate performance outcomes including:
- holding current accreditation status against National Safety and Quality Health Service standards, Australian Aged Care Quality Agency standards and Commonwealth Home Care Standards
- commencing planning and implementation of significant capital investments, including:
- $11.4 million ($7.5 million state, $3.9 million federal) funding for new 36-bed aged care facility at Strathalbyn
- $7.0 million funding for the Murray Bridge emergency department upgrade
- $2.1 million funding for Mount Gambier renal dialysis upgrade
- investing in existing assets to address important repairs/maintenance in country hospitals including:
- $4.0 million on minor works and compliance such as upgraded fire, theatre, air-conditioning and security systems
- $3.8 million on further asset sustainment, such as upgraded communications and major electrical equipment
- investing $2.8 million in biomedical equipment to upgrade scope systems and equipment, monitoring systems, phacoemulsification machines, ventilators, anaesthetic machines, incubators and microscopes at various country hospitals
- meeting the target for employees having an annual performance review and development discussion
- meeting the target for the rate of new workplace injury claims
- providing 476 occasions of training through the Country Allied Health Clinical Education Program (CAHCEP)
- 117 nurses completing the Emergency Nurse and Midwifery Education (ENAME) course, with 135 nurses completing an update course
- implementing the Country Health SA Reconciliation Action Plan for 2018-2020, including updates and resources to support the staff selection procedure
- 72% of Country Health SA staff understanding the values of the organisation, based on the 2018 “ I Work for SA ” staff survey
- the 2018 South Australian Consumer Experience Surveillance System recording above 90% results for the organisation in relation to different parts of care, clinical knowledge and skills, overall quality, pain relief and clinical treatment associated with unexpected harm/distress.
Employment opportunity programs
Flexibility for the Future
Under the Flexibility for the Future Program, Country Health SA placed 4 new trainees in 2018-19 (1 at South Coast, 1 at Mount Barker and 2 at Gawler). All trainees placed identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Aboriginal Employment Program
Through Aboriginal employment initiatives, Country Health SA employed 56 people who identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Enrolled Nurse Cadet Program
During 2018-19, 18 students commenced the program, with two identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. This targeted recruitment strategy continues to be successful, offering a training and employment pathway for rural people to commence their health career.
Agency performance management and development systems
Performance review and development is a process for supporting continuous improvement of the work performance of employees to assist them to meet the organisation’s values and objectives.
81% of employees had a performance review and development discussion.
Work health and safety, and return to work programs
Prevention and management of musculoskeletal injury (MSI)
Includes manual task local facilitator model. Achieved a 22% decrease in MSI claims (111 compared to 143 the previous year).
Prevention and management of psychological injury
Includes collaboration between the Work Health and Safety, Injury Management and Human Resources teams and senior managers. Achieved a 16% decrease in psychological claims (21 compared to 25 the previous year).
Prevention and management of slips, trips and falls (ST&Fs)
Includes release of ST&Fs package. Achieved a 27% decrease in ST&Fs claims (33 compared to 45 the previous year).
Workplace injury claims | 2018-19 | 2017-18 | % change (+ / -) |
---|---|---|---|
Total new workplace injury claims | 203 | 281 | -28% |
Fatalities | 0 | 0 | Not applicable |
Seriously injured workers* | 0 | 0 | Not applicable |
Significant injuries (where lost time exceeds a working week, expressed as frequency rate per 1,000 FTE) | 24.0 | 15.6 | +35% |
*This is defined as the number of claimants assessed during the reporting period as having a whole person impairment of 30% or more under the Return to Work Act 2014 (Part 2 Division 5).
Work health and safety regulations | 2018-19 | 2017-18 | % change (+ / -) |
---|---|---|---|
Number of notifiable incidents ( Work Health and Safety Act 2012, Part 3) | 26 | 22 | +18% |
Number of provisional improvement, improvement and prohibition notices ( Work Health and Safety Act 2012, Sections 90, 191 and 195 ) | 13 | 0 | +1300% |
Return to work costs** | 2018-19 | 2017-18 | % change (+ / -) |
---|---|---|---|
Total gross workers compensation expenditure ($) | $4,390,822 | $3,704,656 | +19% |
Income support payments – gross ($) | $1,208,163 | $1,275,532 | -5% |
**before third party recovery
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/country-health-sa-local-health-network
Executive employment in the agency
Executive classification | Number of executives |
---|---|
SAES1 | 10 |
SAES2 | 2 |
EXECOA | 3 |
EXECOC | 1 |
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/country-health-sa-local-health-network
The Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment has a workforce information page that provides further information on the breakdown of executive gender, salary and tenure by agency.
Financial performance
Financial performance at a glance
The following is a brief summary of the overall financial position of the agency. The information is unaudited. Full audited financial statements for 2018-19 are attached to this report.
Statement of Comprehensive Income | 2018-19 Budget $000s | 2018-19 Actual $000s | Variation $000s | 2017-18 Actual $000s |
---|---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 929,221 | 982,869 | (53,648) | 910,075 |
Revenues | 214,240 | 226,311 | 12,071 | 224,576 |
Net cost of providing services | 714,981 | 756,558 | (41,577) | 685,499 |
Net Revenue from SA Government | 688,446 | 706,378 | (17,932) | 661,476 |
Net result | (26,535) | (50,180) | (23,645) | (24,023) |
Total Comprehensive Result | (26,535) | (50,046) | (23,511) | 36,720 |
Statement of Financial Position | 2018-19 Budget $000s | 2018-19 Actual $000s | Variation $000s | 2017-18 Budget $000s | 2017-18 Actual $000s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Current assets | 0 | 144,832 | 144,832 | 148,728 | |
Non-current assets | 0 | 842,280 | 842,280 | 872,552 | |
Total assets | 0 | 987,112 | 987,112 | 1,021,280 | |
Current liabilities | 0 | 196,562 | (196,562) | 192,758 | |
Non-current liabilities | 0 | 124,599 | (124,599) | 112,819 | |
Total liabilities | 0 | 321,161 | (321,161) | 305,577 | |
Net assets | 0 | 665,951 | (665,951) | 715,703 | |
Equity | 0 | 665,951 | (665,951) | 715,703 |
Consultants disclosure
The following is a summary of external consultants that have been engaged by the agency, the nature of work undertaken, and the actual payments made for the work undertaken during the financial year.
Consultancies with a contract value below $10,000 each
Consultancies | Purpose | Actual payment |
---|---|---|
All consultancies below $10,000 each - combined | Various | $2,815 |
Consultancies with a contract value above $10,000 each
Consultancies | Purpose | Actual payment |
---|---|---|
Standards Wise (trading as Babyboomers Pty Ltd) | Residential aged care clinical audits | $296,948 |
James Underwood and Associates Pty Ltd | Assistance with completion of Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) 2018-19 residential places application | $62,417 |
Stewart Brown | Professional fees in relation to the Kalimna aged care facility site options (Strathalbyn) | $30,000 |
AsiaAustralis | Keith and District Hospital Review | $25,000 |
Flinders University | Research to evaluate the effectiveness, appropriateness, suitability and success of the rural generalist program for rural South Australia and to also research more broadly a range of workforce and health service delivery outcomes | $25,000 |
Pavilion Health Services | Audit and reporting on coding services at Port Augusta Hospital | $13,750 |
Total | $453,115 |
Data for the past five years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/country-health-sa-local-health-network
See also the Consolidated Financial Report of the Department of Treasury and Finance for total value of consultancy contracts across the South Australian Public Sector.
See also https://www.tenders.sa.gov.au/tenders/index.do for a list of all external consultancies, including nature of work and value.
See also the Consolidated Financial Report of the Department of Treasury and Finance http://treasury.sa.gov.au/ for total value of consultancy contracts across the SA Public Sector.
Contractors disclosure
The following is a summary of external contractors that have been engaged by the agency, the nature of work undertaken, and the actual payments made for work undertaken during the financial year.
Contractors with a contract value below $10,000
Contractors | Purpose | Actual payment |
---|---|---|
All contractors below $10,000 each - combined | Various | $465,907 |
Contractors with a contract value above $10,000 each
Contractors | Purpose | Actual payment |
---|---|---|
HCA - Healthcare Australia | Registered nurses, enrolled nurses and care workers | $3,233,155 |
Rural Locum Scheme Pty Ltd | Registered nurse, enrolled nurse and allied health agency staff | $1,102,049 |
Your Nursing Agency Pty Ltd | Agency staff | $758,306 |
Global Medics Pty Ltd | Agency staff | $259,948 |
Babyboomers Pty Ltd | Nurse advisor and administrator service | $203,694 |
Australian Network Solutions Trust | Staff to assist with the CATCH, My Health PoCiTT and POCT programs | $130,180 |
Aurecon Australasia Pty Ltd | Country Health Asset Sustainment Program - project management support | $129,880 |
NSW Business Chamber Ltd | Agency staff | $104,209 |
Cornerstone Recruitment Pty Ltd | Agency staff | $103,324 |
Boandik Lodge Inc | Transition Care Program / End of Life Choices funding | $101,372 |
Randstad Pty Limited | Agency staff | $93,954 |
Flinders University | E-health research | $84,664 |
Avancii | Financial and corporate analyst | $73,800 |
Victoria Road Medical Clinic | Chief obstetric consultant | $69,654 |
Cornerstone Medical Recruitment | Agency staff | $68,491 |
Resthaven Inc | Transition Care Program / day therapy services | $66,684 |
Hudson Global Resources (Aust) Pty Limited | Internal auditor | $62,067 |
Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service Inc | Aged care services | $59,755 |
Medrecruit Pty Ltd | Agency staff | $57,496 |
Homecare Plus | Personal care and domestic assistance | $46,072 |
Allied Employment Group Pty Ltd | Agency staff | $43,756 |
Hays Specialist Recruitment (Australia) Pty Limited | Agency staff | $42,285 |
System Solutions Engineering Pty Ltd | Engineering services | $32,708 |
Matthew Flinders Home Inc | Social support group, Transition Care Program | $30,601 |
The Clare Medical Services Trust | Committee work | $30,587 |
Lifestyle Assistance and Accommodation Service | Disability Ageing Lifestyle Project (DALP) client support | $29,101 |
Maxima Training Services | Agency staff | $28,740 |
Kemp Recruitment | Agency staff | $25,604 |
Orana Australia Limited | Agency staff | $24,777 |
Prime Medical Placements Pty Ltd | Agency staff | $24,661 |
Mintoneast And Associates Pty Ltd | Budget pressures and efficiencies project | $23,650 |
Community Living Australia Ltd | In home and social support | $22,889 |
Future Information Management Pty Ltd | QC Health initial set-up fee and audit subscription | $20,400 |
Mediserve Nursing Agency | Agency staff | $18,262 |
HG Leadership Pty Ltd | Executive leasing | $18,000 |
Clare Medical Centre | Committee work | $17,720 |
Sharyn's Art | Services provided for Country Health Connect clients | $16,770 |
Medstaff (Division of McArthur (SA) Pty Ltd) | Nursing and aged care services | $16,566 |
Enhanced Ability | Remedial therapy | $16,345 |
Carers and Disability Link | Respite services | $15,698 |
Advance Physiotherapy Pty Ltd | Physiotherapy services | $15,120 |
Senior Helpers Adelaide Northern | Respite services | $14,243 |
Reflexion Health and Fitness | Fitness class instructor fees | $13,250 |
Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure | Whyalla asbestos project | $12,500 |
Riverland Respite and Recreation Service | Disability Ageing Lifestyle Project (DALP) client support | $12,207 |
Kompletecare Community And Home Care Services | Personal care, domestic assistance, respite care | $12,173 |
Stewartbrown | Aged care financial performance survey and benchmark service | $10,880 |
Bizzy Cleaning | Services provided for Country Health Connect clients | $10,210 |
Active Retirement Services | AEP Services (accredited exercise physiologist) | $10,000 |
Individual contractors above $10,000 each – combined | Client services | $509,211 |
Total | $7,927, 668 |
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/country-health-sa-local-health-network
See also https://www.tenders.sa.gov.au/tenders/index.do for a list of all external consultancies, including nature of work and value.
See also the Consolidated Financial Report of the Department of Treasury and Finance http://treasury.sa.gov.au/ for total value of consultancy contracts across the SA Public Sector.
The details of South Australian Government-awarded contracts for goods, services, and works are displayed on the SA Tenders and Contracts website. View the agency list of contracts.
The website also provides details of across government contracts.
Other information
Not applicable.
Risk management
Risk and audit at a glance
Not applicable.
Fraud detected in the agency
Category/nature of fraud | Number of instances |
---|---|
Nil | 0 |
NB: Fraud reported includes actual and reasonably suspected incidents of fraud.
Strategies implemented to control and prevent fraud
Country Health SA processes implemented to help control and prevent fraud include the following:
- An annual financial controls self-assessment review was undertaken to ensure that controls are in place to avoid fraud.
- Organisational finances were reviewed monthly by the Performance Committee chaired by the Chief Operating Officer.
- Outstanding debts and debt write-offs were reviewed regularly by the Corporate Governance Committee chaired by the Executive Director of Corporate Services.
- A Risk Management and Audit Committee made up of independent members reviewed any instances of fraud reported to the Independent Commission Against Corruption and to the Department for Health and Wellbeing’s Risk and Audits Branch and provided advice directly to the Chief Executive Officer.
- Fraud and corruption risks were reviewed, updated and submitted to the Risk Management and Audit Committee.
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/country-health-sa-local-health-network
Whistle-blowers disclosure
Number of occasions on which public interest information has been disclosed to a responsible officer of the agency under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993:
Nil (0)
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/country-health-sa-local-health-network
Reporting required under any other act or regulation
Act or regulation — Nil
Requirements — Not applicable
Reporting required under the Carers’ Recognition Act 2005
Country Health SA had a staff orientation and induction program and a mandatory staff training program that ensured staff are educated about the Carers Charter.
Country Health SA had a comprehensive consumer engagement strategy and regularly consulted with health advisory councils, the Health Consumers Alliance of South Australia and other representative groups when developing policies and programs that affect consumers or carers when undertaking strategic or operational planning.
Country Health SA actively encouraged consumer and carer engagement in health services and actively sought feedback from consumers and carers about the services that we provided.
Public complaints
Number of public complaints reported (as required by the Ombudsman)
A whole of SA Health response will be provided in the 2018-19 Department for Health and Wellbeing Annual Report, which can be accessed on the SA Health website.
Complaint categories | Sub-categories | Example | 2018-19 |
---|---|---|---|
Professional behaviour | Staff attitude | Failure to demonstrate values such as empathy, respect, fairness, courtesy, extra mile; cultural competency | Not applicable |
Professional behaviour | Staff competency | Failure to action service request; poorly informed decisions; incorrect or incomplete service provided | Not applicable |
Professional behaviour | Staff knowledge | Lack of service specific knowledge; incomplete or out-of-date knowledge | Not applicable |
Communication | Communication quality | Inadequate, delayed or absent communication with customer | Not applicable |
Communication | Confidentiality | Customer’s confidentiality or privacy not respected; information shared incorrectly | Not applicable |
Service delivery | Systems/technology | System offline; inaccessible to customer; incorrect result/information provided; poor system design | Not applicable |
Service delivery | Access to services | Service difficult to find; location poor; facilities/ environment poor standard; not accessible to customers with disabilities | Not applicable |
Service delivery | Process | Processing error; incorrect process used; delay in processing application; process not customer responsive | Not applicable |
Policy | Policy application | Incorrect policy interpretation; incorrect policy applied; conflicting policy advice given | Not applicable |
Policy | Policy content | Policy content difficult to understand; policy unreasonable or disadvantages customer | Not applicable |
Service quality | Information | Incorrect, incomplete, out dated or inadequate information; not fit for purpose | Not applicable |
Service quality | Access to information | Information difficult to understand, hard to find or difficult to use; not plain English | Not applicable |
Service quality | Timeliness | Lack of staff punctuality; excessive waiting times (outside of service standard); timelines not met | Not applicable |
Service quality | Safety | Maintenance; personal or family safety; duty of care not shown; poor security service/ premises; poor cleanliness | Not applicable |
Service quality | Service responsiveness | Service design doesn’t meet customer needs; poor service fit with customer expectations | Not applicable |
No case to answer | No case to answer | Third party; customer misunderstanding; redirected to another agency; insufficient information to investigate | Not applicable |
Total | Not applicable |
Additional metrics | Total |
---|---|
Total number of feedback comments | Not applicable |
% complaints resolved within policy timeframes | Not applicable |
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/department-for-health-and-wellbeing
Further information is available in the SA Health Patient Safety Report and SA Health Patient Safety Report for Consumers and the Community, which are available from the Safety and Quality Reports page.
Service improvements for period
Health advisory councils continued to have a critical role in their local communities. The value this systematic local engagement can bring to country health services was highly regarded in Country Health SA.
A Partnership Framework for Health Advisory Councils and Country Health SA was collaboratively implemented, acknowledging the special role that health advisory councils play in their local communities and the value this systematic local engagement can bring to country health services.
The Aboriginal Health Experts by Experience Register comprises 141 Aboriginal people of differing ages and gender who continue to inform and guide regional culturally competent service provision. Focussed effort commenced to attract more Aboriginal participation as part of the seamless transition to the new regional LHNs.