Mr TOYNE - 1998-08-11
In July 1996, the management consultants Deloitte Touche Tomatsu reported that there were too many expensive reviews of Territory hospitals and not enough action. In their 1996 report on Territory hospitals, Deloitte said:
Can the minister tell the House how much he is spending on yet another review of Territory hospitals - this one being conducted by Hospital Development International - and can he guarantee that this will not be another money and time-wasting exercise that produces no action?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can guarantee that this will not be a money and time-wasting exercise. It is true that there have been a number of reviews conducted in Territory Health Services over the years. That is the nature of health delivery.
This is a very important and big-spending department. Its current budget is around $400m a year. Its budget increases by approximately $15m a year, if one goes back to previous budgets. Therefore, the need to search for better ways of providing quality service delivery, while, at the same time, achieving efficiencies in the system, is an ongoing exploration. We undertake consultancies, both in-house and out-of-house, on every occasion when we feel those sort of investigations are warranted.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr BURKE: It is true that some of the recommendations made by consultants have not been acted on. That does not mean that the consultants are the only ones who know all the answers. We take from consultants’ reports those things that we believe are worthwhile. Many of the recommendations in the Deloitte’s report were acted on, particularly in the corporate services area. The current consultation is part of the Planning for Growth review process. However, separate to that, I would have insisted on that sort of review, for the reasons that I outlined.
As part of their terms of reference, the consultants are required to study previous reviews, to look at those elements of previous reviews that have not been acted on, to ascertain why those elements have not been acted on, and to advise whether they should be acted on.
The nature of health delivery is changing, and changing rapidly, both nationally and internationally. Territory Health Services has to manage that change and has to advance. The Northern Territory has a history of health services being delivered primarily through government departments. We need to access more and more private sector money and more and more Commonwealth money to try to achieve efficiencies, not only in the way we provide service delivery, but also to optimise the quality of service delivery that we provide to the general public.
I am looking forward to this particular consultant’s review. Frankly, I think it will be a penultimate review. In terms of my priorities for Territory Health Services, I would …
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr BURKE: Anyone can sit and snipe on the side.
Members interjecting.
Mr BURKE: Opposition members may squeak away on the sidelines and I will continue to run health in the way that I think is best.
I believe this will be an excellent review. It will position Territory Health Services for the 21st century. It will optimise all of those advances that are happening both nationally and internationally. On my time line, I am looking to report on that review in around October.
- Many of the areas reviewed by Deloitte had been subject to recent previous reviews. In many instances recommendations made had not been implemented. The cost-benefit analysis of multiple reviews needs to be critically assessed.
Can the minister tell the House how much he is spending on yet another review of Territory hospitals - this one being conducted by Hospital Development International - and can he guarantee that this will not be another money and time-wasting exercise that produces no action?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can guarantee that this will not be a money and time-wasting exercise. It is true that there have been a number of reviews conducted in Territory Health Services over the years. That is the nature of health delivery.
This is a very important and big-spending department. Its current budget is around $400m a year. Its budget increases by approximately $15m a year, if one goes back to previous budgets. Therefore, the need to search for better ways of providing quality service delivery, while, at the same time, achieving efficiencies in the system, is an ongoing exploration. We undertake consultancies, both in-house and out-of-house, on every occasion when we feel those sort of investigations are warranted.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr BURKE: It is true that some of the recommendations made by consultants have not been acted on. That does not mean that the consultants are the only ones who know all the answers. We take from consultants’ reports those things that we believe are worthwhile. Many of the recommendations in the Deloitte’s report were acted on, particularly in the corporate services area. The current consultation is part of the Planning for Growth review process. However, separate to that, I would have insisted on that sort of review, for the reasons that I outlined.
As part of their terms of reference, the consultants are required to study previous reviews, to look at those elements of previous reviews that have not been acted on, to ascertain why those elements have not been acted on, and to advise whether they should be acted on.
The nature of health delivery is changing, and changing rapidly, both nationally and internationally. Territory Health Services has to manage that change and has to advance. The Northern Territory has a history of health services being delivered primarily through government departments. We need to access more and more private sector money and more and more Commonwealth money to try to achieve efficiencies, not only in the way we provide service delivery, but also to optimise the quality of service delivery that we provide to the general public.
I am looking forward to this particular consultant’s review. Frankly, I think it will be a penultimate review. In terms of my priorities for Territory Health Services, I would …
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr BURKE: Anyone can sit and snipe on the side.
Members interjecting.
Mr BURKE: Opposition members may squeak away on the sidelines and I will continue to run health in the way that I think is best.
I believe this will be an excellent review. It will position Territory Health Services for the 21st century. It will optimise all of those advances that are happening both nationally and internationally. On my time line, I am looking to report on that review in around October.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016