Reports
Actions for Code Red: Hospital Emergency Departments
Code Red: Hospital Emergency Departments
All three hospitals followed the Department of Health’s guidelines for judging capacity and had systems in place to notify hospital staff and ambulance crews of changes in status. We found discrepancies in the records kept by all three hospitals when compared to the records maintained by the Department of Health. Our view however, is that these records do not need to be a perfect match for the intended purpose, which is to guide ambulance crews to the sh
Actions for Waiting Times for Elective Surgery in Public Hospitals
Waiting Times for Elective Surgery in Public Hospitals
We recognise that managing waiting times is a difficult and complex task. Waiting times are influenced by many factors, some of which are outside the control of NSW Health. There are, however, steps which NSW Health could, and should, take to ensure that the processes to manage waiting times are efficient and effective. By all measures used by NSW Health, patients are waiting longer for elective treatment today than six or seven years ago. In March 2003
Actions for Dealing with Unlicensed and Unregistered Driving
Dealing with Unlicensed and Unregistered Driving
In our opinion there are inadequacies in the current arrangements for detecting unauthorised driving. For example better information is needed on the extent of unlicensed driving. This may require giving the NSW Police power to conduct random licence and registration checks. In addition, there are technological and legal constraints to the efficient and effective detection of unauthorised driving. Parliamentary reference - Report number #115&nbs
Actions for Freedom of Information
Freedom of Information
Freedom of Information (FOI) Coordinators and their staff were supportive of the legislation. However, the agencies examined can do considerably more to fully achieve the intentions of the Act. On the positive side, all three agencies had processes in place to handle requests and had made a number of changes to improve the effectiveness of the FOI process. Fees and charges had also been kept to a minimum. No processing fees were requested in the majority
Actions for Northside Storage Tunnel Project
Northside Storage Tunnel Project
The Northside Storage Tunnel was the first major public sector construction project using an alliance approach. In our opinion, the outcome of the project suggests that an alliance approach, when applied to a suitable project and managed appropriately, can support positive project outcomes. And in many respects the Alliance worked well. There are, however, a number of issues that we believe need to be addressed for future alliances. Parliamentar
Actions for The Millennium Train Project
The Millennium Train Project
State Rail has made significant improvements since the purchase of the Tangara. It improved measures necessary for handling contracts dealing with technically complex and innovative projects, although some other problems have been encountered, with new lessons to learn. The design and manufacture of new trains requires a significant investment in both time and cost. The Millennium Train has come at a considerably higher price than originally expected. An
Actions for Delivering Services Online
Delivering Services Online
A staged, systematic and careful approach and extensive business re-engineering effort underpinned the Roads and Traffic Authority's (RTA) steady progress in providing customers with a range of reliable and secure online registration services. The RTA’s consistent and disciplined pursuit of new and challenging e-business opportunities is commendable. Parliamentary reference - Report number #111 - released 11 June 2003
Actions for Protecting Our Rivers
Protecting Our Rivers
The Audit Office is of the opinion that responsibility for protecting the quality of river water is not clearly delineated. The current arrangements lack the structure to ensure success. There is no lead entity to co-ordinate efforts to protect river water. New South Wales has no overarching water quality or river health strategy and no water quality management plans to ensure clear outcomes and responsibilities for protecting river water quality an
Actions for CityRail Passenger Security
CityRail Passenger Security
StateRail has invested significantly over the last five years in passenger safety and security. Security guards on trains from 7.00 pm were introduced in 1998. More recently, additional lighting, 5,700 closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) and emergency help points have been installed on CityRail stations. In addition, CityRail has employed some 100 transit officers to patrol its network and intends to employ another 200 transit officers in 2003. Whil