Independent Governance Review of the Health Services Act 2016 SURVEY

Overview

Establishment of the Health Services Act 2016 

The Health Services Act 2016 commenced on 1 July 2016, providing a legal framework for clear roles, responsibilities and accountabilities at all levels of the system and a devolved model of governance that enables decision-making closer to service delivery and patient care. The Act brought significant reform to the governance and structure of the WA health system: 

• The Department, led by the Director General, has been was established as the System Manager responsible for the overall management, performance and strategic direction of the WA public health system to ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe and timely health services.

• Health Service Providers (HSPs)  were established as separate legal entities, governed by either a Chief Executive or a Board, legally responsible and accountable to the Minister for Health. HSPs have clear functions and powers under the Act relating to the provision of health services including preparing certain strategies, establishing procedures for dealing with complaints and monitoring and improving the quality of services provided. 

The Independent Governance Review  

The Minister for Health has commissioned an Independent Panel to provide advice on whether the roles and responsibilities within the health system are appropriately distributed. The Minister has also sought the Panel’s advice on whether current governance arrangements are operating in a way that enables the best possible experience and outcomes for patients, their families, and the health workforce. This includes an assessment of resource management, clinical outcomes and quality and safety of care. 

Terms of Reference 

The Terms of Reference for the Review are available here. 

Why your views matter

We need to hear from you 

Your feedback and perspective on the governance of WA's health system is important.  

This survey provides the opportunity to: 

• Provide open ended feedback about current governance arrangements; and/or 

• Provide your thoughts about some of the specific topics the review is focusing on, guided by specific questions.  

No question in this survey is mandatory. You may choose to answer one or some questions and not others.  

Survey questions focus on the below topics: 

1. Roles and Responsibilities  

2. Setting Direction and Managing Risk 

3. Performance and Emergency Management 

4. Role of Boards 

5. Workforce Planning and Staff Experience 

6. Patient Satisfaction 

7. Consumer and Carer Participation 

8. Resource Sharing and Demand Management 

9. Integration of Mental Health  

10. Prevention and Care in the Community 

11. Open Comment  

In addition to completing this survey, you are invited to provide a written submission. More information about how to provide a submission is available here.

How your response will be used 

The responses you provide will help to inform the Panel’s advice in its Report to Government.   

The Government may use that Report to inform future changes to laws and policies relating to the governance of the WA health system. 

Privacy and Collection Notice

We are committed to protecting the personal information you provide. You do not have to provide personal information to provide a submission.  All answer fields in this survey are optional. 

Further information can be found here under "Your Privacy".

Publication of Survey Responses 

You have three choices in how we treat your survey response: 

• publish with your name and/or organisation 

• publish anonymously 

• do not publish (confidential response). 

Survey responses will be published at Independent Governance Review of the Health Services Act 2016 unless you have chosen to make your response confidential. 

Survey closes at 5pm, Friday 20 May 2022.