News Flash

The Public Service Association (PSA) has received correspondence confirming the progress of the Due Diligence process being undertaken across three (3) of the Local Health Networks (LHNs).  (Namely Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN), Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN).)

PSA has been advised that:

A large component of the due diligence process relates to the financial details, ledgers and how resources are split between the LHNs.

The financial and legal components have been outsourced to Ernst & Young and recommendations will go direct from Ernst & Young to the Department of Health.

When looking at the allocation of resource across the LHNs it became evident that resources had been funded through casemix and the different regions, (the then Central Northern Adelaide Health Service and Southern Adelaide Health Service) had made different decisions about how best to utilise these funds for their client base.

For this reason services would be aligned back to their funding source which means a larger piece of work from a due diligence viewpoint relates to the separation of the CALHN from the NALHN with minor effect for the SALHN.

LHNs will not be asked to have identical structures and will align structures with identified needs within the respective LHNs.  This will be a decision of each Chief Executive Officer and appropriate consultation will take place in relation to any decisions to change currently existing structures.

The vast majority of change required to this point constituted a change in reporting relationships for most individuals and had not resulted in a structural change.

Areas that are still being worked through are:

Media and Communication.
Ambulatory and Primary Health Care (CALHN and NALHN).
Clinical and Corporate Support.

The PSA is concerned about the organisational structures for CALHN, NALHN and SALHN in particularly in relation to Allied Health Professionals being self represented on the executive levels.  The PSA was able to achieve the Allied Health Executive positions in each of the three (3) LHNs being developed.

In relation to the CALHN and NALHN Ambulatory and Primary Health Care Service, the PSA has been advised that a separate consultative forum will be established.  The work to separate this service into two will be considerable and take some months to achieve.  PSA members working within these areas who would like to be involved in this consultative process are requested to nominate to Senior Industrial Officer Sue Cummins via email sc@cpsu.asn.au

Industrial Relations Forums for each of the LHNs are being established for NALHN, CALHN and SALHN.  The existing forums for Country Health SA Local Health Network (CHSALHN) and Women's and Children's Health Network (WCHHN) are continuing.  PSA members interested in nominating to be involved in these forums are encouraged to email sc@cpsu.asn.au

21 November 2011