The agency's performance (EFNLHN Annual Report 2020-21)

Performance at a glance

In 2020-21 Eyre and Far North LHN achieved key performance areas including:

• Meeting targets for all emergency department ‘seen on time’ triage categories.
• Meeting targets for emergency department patients who left at their own risk.
• Meeting all elective surgery timely admissions and overdue patient categories.
• Achieving targets for positive responses to key consumer experience questions.
• Achieving targets in safety and quality performance indicators including hand hygien compliance rates and hospital acquired complications rates.
• Delivering services tailored specifically to the needs of local Aboriginal populations such as the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program, Trachoma Program and Aboriginal Community and Consumer Engagement Strategy.
• Significantly expanding the delivery of community, in-home and disability services under the Country Health Connect brand.
• All sites accredited under the Australian Council Healthcare Standards.
• All sites accredited under National Disability Insurance Scheme Practice Standards.

Agency response to COVID-19

As part of SA Health’s response to COVID-19, EFNLHN has maintained testing sites across the year at Port Lincoln, Ceduna and Coober Pedy as well as the ability to provide testing at other hospital sites or at home, in required, and has had effective arrangements in place to keep safe staff, patients and residents at EFNLHN-run aged care facilities.

As the year progressed, COVID vaccinations became available and a national vaccination program started, with the vaccine Astra Zenecca made available in the Eyre and Far North. The LHN started rolling out vaccinations locally in February 2021, focusing on priority groups such as adults over 70 and those with underlying health conditions, frontline at-risk health care workers and residential aged care and disability staff.

EFNLHN’s vaccination program has utilised a standing clinic in Port Lincoln, which was expanded towards the end of this year, enabling a doubling of appointments being made available. A travelling vaccination team also delivered a program of visits across the Eyre and Far North, travelling over 20,000 kilometres in six months to deliver both doses of Astra Zeneca, and late in the year, the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine.

Partnerships have enabled the vast geography of the Eyre and Far North to be covered, working with General Practitioners, Pharmacists, local councils, emergency services and health partner organisations like the South Australian Ambulance Service, Royal Flying Doctor Service and SA Pathology.

Overall, vaccination rates in the Eyre and Far North have been above the State average for the year and the LHN has used all vaccines made available to it.

Agency contribution to whole of Government objectives

More Jobs

Addition of Nursing Divisional Director – Aged Care, Midwifery Level 4 (at Ceduna), Strategic Asset Manager and Risk and Compliance Manager positions at EFNLHN, one of the biggest employers in the Eyre and Far North.

Lower costs

Costs for consumers were reduced through delivering programs such as:

• COVID-19 testing at home.
• COVID-19 vaccinations close to home.
• Timely elective surgery.
• Increasing access to Telehealth services, including for specialist consultations.
• Home-based chronic disease monitoring.

Better Services

• COVID-19 vaccination program, with the fastest rollout and above State average vaccination rates, as well as ongoing COVID-19 testing.
• Introduction of GP locum model at Port Lincoln Hospital as part of transition to a salaried medical model for the Emergency Department and Inpatient Services, and planning the transition to a full salaried medical model.
• Start of medium level chemotherapy service at Port Lincoln Hospital.
• 21 per cent increase in Home Care Packages, Aboriginal clients accessing those services remains steady.
• A 62 per cent increase in the value of packages for clients accessing National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) services - growth from $2 million to $3.4 million, 27 per cent increase in NDIS packages.

Agency specific objectives and performance

Corporate performance summary

The Eyre and Far North Local Health Network achieved key performance outcomes including:

• Highest (Level 1) performance against Department for Health and Wellbeing annual contract achieved and maintained for a second year running.
• Balanced budget achieved, excluding COVID-19 costs.
• Three-year accreditation against National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards at all sites achieved, the first time the LHN had sought accreditation in its own right (not as part of the former Country Health SA LHN).
• Accreditation against the National Disability Insurance Scheme accreditation standards achieved, the only regional LHN to achieve accreditation with no unmet actions.
• Highest percentage of employees having had an annual performance review and development discussion of all Local Health Networks.
• Large number of staff supported to pursue professional development opportunities.

Employment opportunity programs

Skilling SA

EFNLHN supported 6 employees to undertake training relevant to their discipline including 1 staff member enrolling in Cert IV in Health Administration and 5 staff enrolling in Cert III in Individual Support.

Growing Leaders

EFNLHN supported 9 employees to undertake the Growing Leaders Program.

Manager Essentials

Via the SA Leadership Academy, EFNLHN supported 3 staff to undertake this program.

Enrolled Nurse (EN) Cadets

7 x EN Cadets commenced employment with the EFNLHN.

Cadets commenced at Cleve, Wudinna, Kimba, Ceduna, Elliston and 2 commenced at Coober Pedy.

Transition to Professional Practice Program (TPPP)

9 Registered Nurses and 4 Registered Midwives commenced employment as TPPP’s within EFNLHN.

• 2 RNs and 2 RMs commenced at Ceduna
• 4 RNs and 2 RMs commenced at Port Lincoln
• 1 RN commenced at Kimba
• 1 RN commenced at Cowell
• 1 RN commenced at Wudinna

Agency performance management and development systems

Performance review and development supports continuous improvement of the work performance of employees to assist them to meet the organisation’s values and objectives.

93.08% of staff had an annual performance review and development discussion.

80.81% of staff had a 6 monthly performance review and development discussion.

EFNLHN has a strong commitment to the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal employees, striving to continue to build workforce capacity and capability to achieve a positive impact on the care provided to Aboriginal patients and families within a culturally safe environment.

As at 30/06/21, 3.43% of employees within the Eyre and Far North Local Health Network identified as Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander.

• 7 – Nursing
  
• 14 – Salaried
  
• 15 – Weekly Paid
  
• 5 — Other

Mandatory Training Compliance

As at 30/06/21, EFNLHN identified 67% compliance.

Criminal History & Relevant Screening

As at 30/06/21, EFNLHN identified 98.56% compliance.

Flu Vax

As at 30/06/21, EFNLHN identified 43% compliance.

Immunisation Compliance

As at 30/06/21, Immunisation Compliance was 100% for Cat A, B and C

Work health, safety and return to work programs

Prevention and management of musculoskeletal injury (MSI)

EFNLHN recorded 32 new MSI claims in 2020-21. This was 1 more than 31 in 2019-20, an increase of 3%. MSI claims remained the same as in the previous year. New MSI claims accounted for 75% of new claims submitted.

Prevention and management of psychological injury

7 new PSY claim were received in 2020-21. This was 3 more than the previous year of 4 claims, an increase of 33%. PSY claims accounted for 13% of new claims.

Prevention and management of slips, trips and falls (ST&Fs)

4 new STF claim received in 2020-21. This was 1 less than the previous year of 5. New STF claims accounted for 13% of new claims.

Workplace injury claims

*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

Return to work costs

**before third party recovery

Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/eyre-and-far-north-local-health-network-efnlhn

Executive employment in the agency

• SAES1 — 1
• RN6A06 — 1
• MD029G — 1

Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/eyre-and-far-north-local-health-network-efnlhn

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.