30 September 2005
Forster Review of Qld Health – initial QNU response
- Nurses welcome strong emphasis on patient safety and openness and accountability
- Greater protection for whistleblowers welcomed
- Extra nurses long overdue
- Nurses reject means-testing of public health services
The strong emphasis on improving patient safety and ensuring greater openness and accountability in the delivery and management of Queensland health services will be welcomed by nurses throughout Queensland, the Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) said today.
QNU secretary, Gay Hawksworth, said it needs to be remembered, as we digest the content of Mr Forster’s comprehensive report into Queensland Health, that all of this push for change came about because of nursing concerns about patient safety at Bundaberg Hospital.
“None of the improvements recommended by Mr Forster, and there are many excellent recommendations in his report, would have come about without brave nurses such as Toni Hoffman in Bundaberg,” Ms Hawksworth said.
Greater protection for whistleblowers welcomed
“That is why Mr Forster’s recommendations on providing greater protection for whistleblowers should be implemented quickly. So should his recommendations on changes to such things as the Queensland Health Code of Conduct.
“The QNU also strongly supports the thrust of Mr Forster’s extensive recommendations on the improved handling of health care complaints and his inclusion of the private sector in the process. For all the recent and current publicity about the public health system, everyone should remember that adverse incidents are just as common in private services. In fact, the private sector needs a lot more scrutiny if we are to improve patient safety and patient care across the board.
Extra nurses long overdue
“In terms of nursing, Mr Forster has made a long list of recommendations which we are still evaluating. However, he is right to demand that extra nurses be employed and about a 1000 a year over the next three years, to meet current and growth needs, is about right. However, it is obviously something we will have to keep monitoring closely.
“At first glance most of the other nursing recommendations also appear worthwhile, with his emphasis on better remuneration and ongoing, properly-funded training and education particularly welcome.
Nurses reject means-testing of public health services
“One weak point in the Forster Report is the suggestion to consider means-testing public hospital services. This is a simplistic idea, which opens the door to a United-States-style, two-tiered health system.
“The weakness of the idea is exposed in another of Mr Forster’s findings, which shows that about $100 million immediately and $60 million in ongoing funding is all that is required to clear Queensland’s surgical waiting lists and ensure patients receive treatment within clinically appropriate timeframes. That is a drop in the ocean when compared with the billions squandered each year on the Federal Government’s inefficient private health insurance rebate.
“In this respect there are a number of other concerns in this report, including the proposal to sell State Government nursing homes,” Ms Hawksworth said. | 
