Jim McGowan AM, Metro North Board Chair

The Board met last week in the Australian Unity Boardroom in the wonderfully refurbished Edith Cavell Building on the Herston campus.

In addition to the usual matters considered by the Board at its monthly meeting was a report from Helen Boocock on a range of issues relevant to the operations at the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) and a very informative report from Professor Peter Hopkins and Associate Professor Glen Kennedy on the clinical services of the Heart and Lung Stream across Metro North.

The Board and management consider the physical environment of our staff very seriously and so $2 million, on top of the allocated repairs and maintenance budget, has been allocated to eradicate any mould that has developed as a result of the recent wet season.

Minister D’Ath wrote to me as Chair of Metro North Health on her priorities:

“The approach to commissioning healthcare services in the 2022-23 financial year, and into the future, will see a refreshed focus on transparency, accountability and sustainability across the health system. This includes simplification of the funding model and service agreements, limiting unsustainable one-off investments, and linking funding to the delivery of outcomes through our performance framework.

In 2022-23 performance outcomes and investments have been aligned to the current system priorities of trauma and illness, planned care recovery and mental health, alcohol, and other drugs demand. Equity of access to healthcare services for First Nations people and the effective implementation of the Health Equity Strategy in your health service remains a high priority across all domains.

Sustainability of the system will be driven by the incentivisation of alternate and innovative models of care, including virtual care modalities, and models of care not aligned to the traditional activity-based funding model. This includes encouraging partnerships with primary and community sector providers and continues a demonstrated commitment by the Department of investing in provision of the right care at the right time in the right place as close to home as possible.”

The Minister also outlined her expectation that leaders within Queensland Health and the HHSs are to be guided by nine (9) principles:

• “Consumer centricity: Creating a health system that is consumer-driven to deliver healthcare grounded in people’s needs.
• Equity and access: Supporting a more open health system that better defines how and where care is delivered, and that provides genuine equity in healthcare and health outcomes, particularly for First Nations people.
• Workforce & Capability: Enabling a flexible and empowered workforce, focused on capability, capacity, and collaboration.
• Integration & Partnerships: Connecting care across health providers, where clinicians, consumers and providers genuinely work in partnership across the continuum of care through a networked model.
• Innovation: Fostering an environment where good ideas and practices are evaluated and shared to benefit a statewide system, underpinned by a transformation mindset, measured risk and evidence-based foundation.
• Culture: Changing behaviours to create a more united, agile and responsive health system that is grounded in transparency and collaboration.
• Accountability & Leadership: Building trust and accountability at all levels of a system that is structured and supported to make informed decisions.
• Sustainability: Underpinning a focus for sustainability as a critical enabler to deliver safer, affordable and efficient healthcare, now and into the future.
• Data-driven: Leveraging best practice data strategy to inform and support strategic design and operational delivery.”

Board members acknowledged that Metro North’s strategies and planning are very well aligned to the Minister’s priorities.

On another very positive outcome for us all in Metro North, STARS has been awarded the “Best Public Building” in the annual Property Council of Australia Awards. Congratulations to all who have been involved!

A couple of quotes to consider:

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (King Solomon of Israel from the Wisdom of Solomon, 990BC – 931BC)

“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.” (Socrates, 470BC – 399BC, Greek philosopher)

 “Things don’t have to change the world to be important.” (Steve Jobs, 1955-2011, Co-founder of Apple)

Regards,

Jim McGowan AM
Metro North Board Chair