The PSA attends regular bi-monthly meetings with Modbury Hospital Management and was represented by PSA Industrial Officer Margie Lindley. The following key agenda items were discussed at the meeting.

Commonwealth Grant

Modbury Hospital Management is seeking a Commonwealth Grant to establish a 'Surgicentre'. This centre would operate in the area previously utilised by the old Maternity unit. For Modbury Hospital to have the Surgicentre would achieve a better patient flow service which would assist both patients and staff.

Contracts

Modbury Hospital Management has written to the Department of Health seeking direction on how the Department wishes Modbury Hospital to proceed with regards to renewing contracts due to expire in the next couple of years. The Allied Health contracts have been renewed until 2009 in line with other contracts. As yet a response has not been received. The PSA will monitor this item.

Nursing Staff

Several contracts have been secured for the next 3 years. There are still some agency staff employed within the hospital but Modbury Hospital is keen to secure permanent staff. Advertisements are being placed over the next 4 weeks in The Advertiser and The Messenger Newspapers for permanent nursing staff.

Leave Balances

Staff have produced evidence to Modbury Human Resource (HR) Department of leave balances accrued prior to the transition from Healthscope to CNAHS Modbury Hospital. These balances are currently with the Shared Services Payroll Department for updating staff records accordingly. Modbury Hospital HR will shortly be forwarding letters to staff outlining their agreed leave balances once this has been updated on the Shared Services system.

Administrative Job & Person Specification Assessments

Modbury Hospital Management reported that the administrative Job and Person Specifications had been forwarded to Lesley Dwyer, Executive Director CNAHS for signing off to commence the process of assessment of the administrative stream classifications. The PSA has been successful in gaining copies of the Job and Person Specifications put forward for assessment. The PSA highlighted its dismay that this process has taken approximately 18 months to take place and believes this is unreasonable. The PSA will keep members informed of the progress.

IT Systems at Modbury

Concern was expressed at the inconsistencies between other agencies IT systems and the Modbury Hospital. The Platform that Modbury Hospital is using is not consistent/compatible with the new direction and Modbury Hospital Management have been trying very hard to gain some satisfaction in this area with the ICT Centralisation Group. The PSA will follow this up with the CNAHS Industrial Liaison Forum and keep members informed.

Public Sector Bill

The PSA advised that the Public Sector Bill had been passed in the Lower House and now will be considered by the Legislative Council (Upper House). 

The PSA has identified some of the key concerns with the Bill including:

• Ability of Agency Chief Executives to terminate employment

• Absence of a Grievance and Appeals Tribunal

• Lack of ability for the new Grievance Review Commission to determine Reclassification Appeals

• Suspension to be without pay only, compared to the current option of with or without pay (in Health suspension can only be with pay)

• The Code of Conduct is not limited to employment related matters

• The role of the Commissioner for Public Employment is dramatically reduced.

2009 Enterprise Bargaining

The PSA advised that Enterprise Bargaining discussions were due to commence this year and that the PSA will be communicating and meeting with members from July 2009 in regards to this. Members suggestions are welcomed. Please contact Margie Lindley as per below.

The PSA welcomes any issues members may wish to raise at future industrial forums. Please forward any issues to Margie Lindley, PSA Industrial Officer on mcl@cpsu.asn.au. Worksite Representatives who may wish to attend Industrial Liaison Forums should also contact Margie Lindley on mcl@cpsu.asn.au or telephone 8205 3285.

PSA WORKING FOR MODBURY HOSPITAL MEMBERS