Annual Report 2023-24 - Department for Health and Wellbeing

To: Chris Picton MP, Minister for Health and Wellbeing

This annual report will be presented to Parliament to meet the statutory reporting requirements of Public Sector Act 2009, the Public Sector Regulations 2010, the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987 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 Department for Health and Wellbeing by:

Dr Robyn Lawrence
Chief Executive

From the Chief Executive

I am pleased to present the 2023-24 Annual Report for the Department for Health and Wellbeing, South Australia.

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our health system this year – from those who provide frontline care to those providing clinical and non-clinical support services. Your hard work and dedication each and every day is appreciated. 

I’m proud of what we as a health system have accomplished together this year. Some of our achievements include:

• In February 2024, more than 300 graduate nurses were recruited to work at Central Adelaide Local Health Network – the largest ever graduate nurse intake. The new recruits are among 832 graduate nurses and midwives employed to work at public hospitals across the state as part of the 2024 Transition to Professional Practice Program (TPPP).
• Implementation of the Department’s SA Health Aboriginal Workforce Framework 2023-2031 commenced.
• Launching Palliative Care Connect, offering a centralised point of information through a dedicated phone line and website, enabling people with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones, to easily access a range of services.
• Launching the new Advance Care Directive kit and website, following significant consultation.
• Launching a number of community pharmacy initiatives, including:
  • Opening three 24/7 pharmacies across northern, central and southern Adelaide
  • Oral Contraceptive Pill Resupply
  • UTI assessment and treatment; and
  • Palliative Care Medicines Pharmacy Network.
• In April 2024, we opened 20 fast-track beds at Flinders Medical Centre as part of the commitment to open 550 more beds right across the system – including more than 330 beds by the end of next year.
• Around the state, project teams continue delivering projects at regional hospitals including Whyalla, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, Kingscote and Victor Harbor. 
• We have also partnered with the Federal Government to roll out the Single Employer Model across the state.  This initiative allows Rural Generalist and General Practice trainees to be employed by a single employer for up to four years while they complete their training. The trial of this program in the Riverland has seen incredible results, with clinics that were struggling to attract GPs now able to expand services.

As with all healthcare systems, there is room for improvement. We continue to identify solutions to reduce delays in transfers of care from our ambulances to emergency departments, and improve patient flow through the hospitals, through to discharging people to the appropriate place in the community. We have seen improvements in ambulance response times throughout the 2023-24 year, however, there is still work to be done to improve patient flow and increase capacity throughout our hospital system. I look forward to pursuing continued improvement in 2024-25.

Dr Robyn Lawrence PSM
Chief Executive
Department for Health and Wellbeing