The Director-General of Health and her "meet the people" tour – by Socrates

You may not be aware of this but the Director-General of NSW Health (Debora Picone) has her own blog in which she seeks “Discussions” from staff and community members about the proposed changes in NSW Health from the large AHS Empires to Local Health Networks (LHNs).

If you wish to read the full proposed LHN document this is the website at which it is located: Socrates urges people to have a good look at it. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/

Now if you want to enter the “discussion” to which we are all invited then I suggest you look at Deb Picone’s blog site at http:// nswhealth.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/release-of-discussion-paper-today/

What you might be struck with (as was old Socrates) is the places to which Ms Picone travelled to have her consultations with staff and community representatives.

* Http://nswhealth.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/allied-health/

* Http://nswhealth.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/lithgow-today/

* Http://nswhealth.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/end-of-the-week-update/

* Http://nswhealth.wordpress.com/2010/07/14/dr-amanda-walker/

* Http://nswhealth.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/report-on-meetings-with-hsu-ama-and-asmof/

* Http://nswhealth.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/meetings-with-amaasmof-and-hsua-today/

* Http://nswhealth.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/report-back-on-listening-visit-to-hornsby-hospital/

* Http://nswhealth.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/been-thinking/

Now, while it’s really nice to know that Ms Picone does like to think – Socrates is doing a bit of head scratching here! So far there’s evidence that Ms Picone has had discussion with Hornsby Hospital staff and community representatives associated with the hospital, and she was planning to visit the Shoalhaven area. So far, Area Health Services outside of the SSWAHS Empire. She even sent a colleague to discuss things with the Lithgow Hospital staff. Another AHS not associated with SSWAHS.

However, we do know that she was feted with that powerpoint presentation (reported in my previous post) by the SSWAHS Executive at some time in her “thinking time”. But did she have any discussion with staff or community members? We know that there was some discussion with DrAmanda Walker who has something to do with Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals (well that’s getting closer to home), but did she have any discussions with staff and community members?

What jumps out in all the discussions seems to be the fairly intense discussion and lobbying with the Industrial Associations for doctors and other ancillary staff – but wait! No mention about the NSW Nurses Association, the professional organisation for the greatest number of the NSW Health’s employed staff. And what about the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses the association which represents many of the mental health nursing staff working in their mental health facilities.

Oh! And in case you have missed it – not one mention of any visit to the Southern Highlands and discussions with the staff and community dependent upon the Bowral Hospital and the community health services, for the maintenance of their health and well-being.

All these tours and discussions have been taking place during July and August. Is it too late? Well I suggest that all Southern Highlands restless natives should get their stylii and wax tablets out and let Ms Picone know what they already think of NSW Health’s idea of discussion and Local Health Networks and SSWAHS and it’s supposed commitment to the people of the Southern Highlands.
Posted by Socrates at 4:00 PM