TEAMHealth Funding and Performance
WRITTEN QUESTIONS
11th Assembly
05/11/2009
72. TEAMHealth Funding and Performance
Ms Purick to MINISTER for Children and Families
QUESTION
1. How much Government money has been given to TEAMHealth for the 07/08 and 08/09 years as -
a. Regular annual funding;
b. One off grants and for what purpose; and
c. Over run funding.
2. Have you received acquittal of fund reports for TEAMHealth and if not why not.
3. Have you had representations from concerned members (staff) of TEAMHealth and if so, how many representations and what were the issues of discussion.
4. Has the Government undertaken any quality audits of TEAMHealth. If not, why not and if so, are the reports available for the affected stakeholders.
5. Have you received any complaints about the management of TEAMHealth and if so, how many.
6. Have you responded to these complaints and if not, why not.
7. Has the department received complaints about TEAMHealth board and management and if so, have they been addressed and replied.
8. Do you have a copy of the independent consultant’s report into the management of TEAMHealth. If so, will you make it available.
9. Have you met with the board and management of TEAMHealth at any time.
10. Have departmental representatives met with the TEAMHealth board and management.
11. Have you met with concerned carers, consumers and/or stakeholders in regard to TEAMHealth’s performance.
ANSWER
Answered on 31/12/2009
- 1. How much Government money has been given to TEAMHealth for the 07/08 and 08/09 years as regular annual funding, one off grants and for what purpose and over run funding.
Payments to external service providers, including TEAMHealth, are provided in the Department of Health and Families’ Annual Reports 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. These can be found at:
www.health.nt.gov.au/Publications/Corporate_Publications/index.aspx
Specific information in relation to TEAMHealth is found at Appendix V for 2007/2008 and Appendix 8 for 2008/2009.
The term ’over-run’ funding is not a common accounting term. It is unclear what is meant by this however, it is assumed that this refers to ‘expenditure by TEAMHealth above what was allocated by DHF’. TEAMHealth in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 carried a surplus.
2. Have you received acquittal of fund reports for TEAMHealth and if not why not.
It is not usual practice for a Minister to receive acquittal reports directly from funded organisations. The Department of Health and Families has received the Audited Financial Statements from TEAMHealth for 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.
3. Have you had representations from concerned members (staff) of TEAMHealth and if so, how many representations and what were the issues of discussion?
The former Minister for Children and Families’ office received one representation.
4. Has the Government undertaken any quality audits of TEAMHealth, if not, why not and if so, are the reports available for the affected stakeholders?
The Mental Health Program is currently implementing a quality review process designed for non-government organisations. The review process is based on compliance with the National Mental Health Standards.
TEAMHealth have agreed to participate in the quality review process.
5. Have you received any complaints about the management of TEAMHealth and if so, how many?
The former Minister for Children and Families received:
Two complaints addressed to the Minister for Children and Families in relation to TEAMHealth; and
A copy of a complaint addressed to the current Chair of the TEAMHealth Board; and
Phone calls expressing concerns about TEAMHealth.
In addition, numerous letters, emails and copies of correspondence have been provided by Mr Garry Halliday, the CEO of Carers NT and previous Chair of TEAMHealth Committee of Management.
6. Have you responded to these complaints and if not why not?
Yes. All complaints have been acknowledged by the former Minister for Children and Families’ office.
7. Has the department received complaints about TEAMHealth Board and Management and if so, have they been addressed and replied.
Yes. The Department has received complaints about the TEAMHealth Board and Management.
The Director of Mental Health Program has contacted all individuals who have written to the Department with complaints.
All complaints have been or are in the process of being investigated.
The Department is working with TEAMHealth to ensure service delivery continues and mental health clients are supported in an appropriate manner.
8. Do you have a copy of the Independent Consultants report into the management of TEAMHealth. If so will you make it available.
The decision to publicly release the confidential report or provide a copy to any individual rests with the Board of TEAMHealth.
9. Have you met with the Board and Management of TEAMHealth at any time.
The former Minister for Children and Families met with the CEO of TEAMHealth and the Chair of the Board of TEAMHealth.
10. Have the Departmental representatives met with the TEAMHealth Board and management.
Yes. The Director Mental Health Program has met with TEAMHealth Board and Management on a number of occasions.
11. Have you met with concerned carers, consumers and/or stakeholders in regard to TEAMHealth’s performance.
The former Minister for Children and Families regularly met with carers, clients and other stakeholders in a range of forums related to her portfolio responsibilities.
The former Minister for Children and Families met with Mr Garry Halliday, former Chair of TEAMHealth’s Board, in September 2009 to hear Mr Halliday’s concerns about TEAMHealth’s performance.
As indicated at Q9 (above), the former Minister for Children and Families also met with the Board and Management of TEAMHealth.