DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
CORE BUSINESS REVIEW 64 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS BEING DECLARED EXCESS TO REQUIREMENT

On Wednesday 17 June 2009 PSA as a key stakeholder attended a briefing provided by Mr Etienne Scheepers Executive Director Workforce Development Department of Health on the Department of Health Core Business Review.

In December 2008 the State Government announced a number of initiatives in the mid year budget review to address the impact of the global financial situation. Chief Executives of all government agencies have been asked to reduce the number of full time equivalent employees by the end of 2009/10, with further savings by 2012/13.

In order to meet targeted efficiencies the Department of Health (DH) have commissioned Ernst & Young to undertake a Core Business Review.

The Ernst & Young Business Review was initially established to look at all divisions in SA Health's central office. Whilst the Business Review had been underway, further work has been undertaken to identify potential savings in other divisions. A number of areas have been identified where services provided by central office are duplicated between divisions and in health regions, which will result in some changes in service provision and staffing.

• The Department of Health library functions will be transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital/SA Pathology library to manage. Work is currently underway to prepare a transition plan.

• The Aboriginal Health Division Liaison and Strategy Team and Community Health Improvement Team will be abolished and the functions transferred to the regions and other divisions within the department.

• The Health Intelligence Branch in Policy and Inter-Government Relations Division will be amalgamated with the Health System Performance Team in operations.

• FTE reductions will occur in the Strategy, Planning and Analysis Team in Policy and Inter-Government Relations with some functions and staff transferring to the Statewide Service Strategy (SSS) Division.

• Staff reductions will occur in population research and outcomes studies unit and the frequency of surveys reduced.

• FTE reductions will occur in Epidemiology and there will be a review of Clinical Epidemiology roles within the health regions.

• FTE reductions will also occur in the Operations Division, Office of Chief Executive, Communications, Finance and Administration and Workforce Development.

Resulting in 64 full time equivalent positions being declared excess to requirement.

PSA is extremely concerned about the level of staff cuts within the department and the impact the cuts will have on the delivery of services across the health system. The PSA will be working with members to ensure these job cuts do not result in unreasonable workloads.

For enquiries contact Dolly Costello Senior Industrial Officer on 8205 3244 or email: dlc@cpsu.asn.au

PSA WORKING FOR MEMBERS IN HEALTH