The purpose of the Consultative Forum is to establish a consultative framework for Health Workforce Unions on workforce implications associated with the new Model of Care developed for all of SA Health and the new Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH).

The following key points were discussed:

• The Forum is being established to discuss, on a without prejudice basis, proposed changes to the way work is divided in hospitals and collectively work with unions to develop a new Model of Care.

• The new Reform is not only for the new RAH, it will be implemented SA Health wide with the intent of using a new Model of Care before the opening of the new RAH.

• Detail of the new Model of Care is required by the end of 2009 to allow discussion/design of the new RAH to proceed.

• Given the new RAH is to be occupied 2016/17, the new Model of Care is to be implemented at other hospitals, prior to this time.

• There will be private and public funding. The reforms are to ensure nurses, doctors and other direct health care providers spend the majority of their time undertaking the activities of direct patient care, not administrative or minor functions. This could be undertaken by other staff.

• IT systems need to be developed to allow doctors and nurses direct access to information they currently spend time assessing.

• The plan is to take the care to the patients not the patients to the care.

• New roles will be created such as a patient support worker who will undertake such tasks as cleaning, bed-making and other non clinical patient care work.

• There will be a need to change the demarcation that exist in the workforce.

Consultative Forum Terms of Reference

Draft Terms of Reference have been prepared and are as follows:

• The primary focus of the SA Health Model of Care Consultative Forum is to:

• Initiate and support without prejudice discussions on the future workforce requirements of SA Health.

• Invite unions and professional associations input into the SA Health decision making process for the implementation of the new Model of Care.

• Keep unions and professional associations informed of progress and development associated with planning of the new RAH.

• Collaborate with unions and professional associations in order to identify industrial and workforce solutions needed in moving towards a future workforce aligned to the new Model of Care.

• Develop a firm understanding of the Enterprise Bargaining agenda for the next two industrial bargaining cycles to align conditions of employment to the new Model of Care.

• To provide a forum for discussions about the workforce implications of the new Model of Care.

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

PSA/CPSU WORKING FOR MEMBERS ACROSS THE HEALTH PORTFOLIO