ACT Health is to produce new quarterly reports of its activities and performance to keep the Territory’s community informed about its health system.
Announced by the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Meegan Fitzharris, the first report has been published covering the period July to September this year.
Ms Fitzharris said it was the first report to be released since the agency’s System-wide Data Review was completed.
“Data reporting and management is integral to running an informed hospital and health care system that is accountable, transparent and responsive,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“It is the key to the continual improvement of health services, ensuring we are providing better access to more timely care.
“It also serves as evidence about the quality of care provided to the community and is a testament to staff across the system.”
She said ACT Health had worked to ensure the report was more meaningful and relevant to the community than previous reports, with the Health Care Consumers Association (HCCA) providing advice.
“This work to better understand what information is useful for patients and consumers is ongoing, and our quarterly reporting will continue to evolve as ACT Health continue to implement the recommendations of the System-wide Data Review,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“This will involve further engagement with the community to learn more about what information is useful for consumers and carers and what this looks like.”
Ms Fitzharris said a number of improvements could be seen following the 2017-18 data outlined recently in reports from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare relating to emergency department and elective surgery waiting times.
“The Quarterly Report allows us to track our performance, and it’s good to see that in the first Quarterly Report for 2018-19 we have seen some improvements, particularly in elective surgery,” she said.
ACT Health’s first 24-page Quarterly Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
