14 June 2006
HEALTH REFORM ACHIEVES SOME EARLY SUCCESSES BUT FUTURE PROGRESS IS UNCERTAIN,
SAYS WA AUDITOR GENERAL
A report from WA Auditor General Des Pearson examining the progress
of health reform in Western Australia has found that although the Health
Reform Implementation Taskforce (HRIT) has achieved some early successes,
its management of health reform projects so far does not provide assurance
that it can keep the reform program on time and on budget into the future.
Mr Pearson’s report ‘Early Diagnosis: Management of the
Health Reform Program’, tabled in Parliament today, reveals that
many of the projects are behind schedule, key information to guide project
planning, implementation and monitoring is not generally available, and
that there are inadequacies in the completeness, timeliness, reliability
and relevance of the public reporting of health reform progress.
Whilst recognising the early achievements, Mr Pearson concludes that
the HRIT needs to take a more disciplined and rigorous approach to managing
the health reform program.
“In the absence of comprehensive and authoritative information
from the HRIT, we examined a selection of reform projects and found that,
18 months into the 10 year reform program, many projects were delayed,” he
states in the Overview to the report.
“The HRIT’s management of the health reform projects to
date does not provide assurance that it can keep the reform program on
track over the coming years.”
Of particular concern to Mr Pearson was the lack of documentation setting
out measurable project milestones and benefits, and information about
how much the reform projects are expected to cost.
He was also concerned at the lack of regular and complete public reporting
on project progress to the community.
“Comprehensive public reporting not only imposes an effective
rigour on project management but also makes a significant contribution
to managing public expectations’” he said.
Findings in relation to project management and reporting included:
- Reform
activities had changed from those initially published in the HRIT’s
work plan
- Few projects had a complete set of the required project
documentation
- Key information was not generally available to guide
project planning, implementation and monitoring
- Project costs and benefits
were generally not well-defined
- The were inadequacies in the completeness,
timeliness, reliability and relevance of activity and public reporting
On the positive side, the report notes that HRIT has already made changes
that are making a difference to patient services and behind-the-scenes
operations.
Hospital in the Home services have been expanded for patients suffering
from cellulitis, deep vein thrombosis and pneumonia, while multi-disciplinary
Chronic Disease Management teams have been established in the metropolitan
area to support patients with diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and
chronic cardiac failure.
Five new GP after-hours clinics near hospital emergency departments
have been established, and it is anticipated these clinics will ultimately
result in reduced wait times for emergency care in hospitals.
Additionally, the program has contributed to advances in community-based
mental health care, building on the general directions of the Mental
Health Strategy 2004-2007.
New services that will encourage early identification, intervention
and rehabilitation include multi-systemic therapy for at-risk youth,
day therapy, child and adolescent mental health services and an eating
disorders service.
Behind-the-scenes, changes have been made to procurement practices that
aim to make savings of $23.2 million in 2005/06, the changes affecting ‘big
ticket’ items such as computed tomography scanners as well as everyday
items such as stationery, mobile phones and computers.
Commenting today Mr Pearson signalled a future audit of the health system’s
progress: “I am encouraged that the HRIT has recognised the need
for more rigorous monitoring and reporting and has instituted processes
to address these issues.
“Nevertheless, given the far-reaching impact of the reform program,
I expect that we will monitor the health system’s progress and
revisit the health reforms within three years,” he stated.
Ends/.
Media Contact: Peter Villiers,
Manager Reporting and Communications
Tel: (08) 9222 7558. Mobile:
0417 936 171 Fax: (08) 9322 5664
4th Floor Dumas House 2 Havelock
Street West Perth
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