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Reports

Published

Actions for Volume Ten 2013 focusing on Health

Volume Ten 2013 focusing on Health

Health
Asset valuation
Financial reporting
Information technology
Infrastructure
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Project management
Risk
Shared services and collaboration

Unqualified opinions were issued for all agencies audited in the following report. Some of the reports findings include: Most cultural bodies rely heavily on government grants to fund services The Sydney Opera House Trust earns most of its revenue from commercial operations Less than half of the 2014-16 service agreements between HealthShare NSW and its customers have been signed. HealthShare NSW and health entities should finalise t

Published

Actions for Reducing Ambulance Turnaround Time at Hospitals

Reducing Ambulance Turnaround Time at Hospitals

Health
Compliance
Management and administration
Service delivery

NSW Health has put in place initiatives to reduce the time ambulance crews have to wait at a hospital before they are able to leave and attend to other calls. Despite these actions, ambulance crews are waiting longer at NSW hospitals. Crews now wait on average nearly 32 minutes at a hospital before handing over a patient, up from about 24 minutes seven years ago.   Parliamentary reference - Report number #233 - released 24 July 2013

Published

Actions for Managing Operating Theatre Efficiency for Elective Surgery

Managing Operating Theatre Efficiency for Elective Surgery

Health
Compliance
Management and administration
Service delivery

Waiting times for elective surgery will continue to increase if NSW Health does not improve its management of operating theatres. On the positive side NSW public hospitals are performing more elective surgery than in previous years and are treating patients substantially within national clinical timeframes. However, more operations will be needed as targets are getting tighter and demand is growing.   Parliamentary reference - Report number #232&n

Published

Actions for Attracting, retaining and managing Nurses in hospitals

Attracting, retaining and managing Nurses in hospitals

Health
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Service delivery
Workforce and capability

The department has done well to attract and retain nurses. Between 2001-02 and 2005-06 the average number of nurses employed increased to 39,804 with the annual resignation rate falling from 16 to 14 per cent. Overall, the public health sector gained 5,588 nurses, representing an average annual increase of four per cent. Despite the gains, there are indicators that there may still not be enough nurses.   Parliamentary reference - Report numbe

Published

Actions for Helping older people access a residential aged care facility

Helping older people access a residential aged care facility

Health
Community Services
Compliance
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Risk
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

Assessment processes for older people needing to go to an Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) vary depending on the processes of the Aged Care Assessement Teams (ACAT) they see and whether or not they are in hospital. The data collected on ACAT performance was significantly revised during 2004 making comparisons with subsequent years problematic. ACATs have more responsibilities than assessing older people for residential care. It is not clea

Published

Actions for Major infectious disease outbreaks: Readiness to response

Major infectious disease outbreaks: Readiness to response

Health
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Risk
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

NSW Health is working to increase its preparedness to respond to a major infectious disease outbreak. It is also contributing to the development of national policies, strategies and capabilities, which affect its level of preparedness. We found however little evidence that other jurisdictions were significantly further advanced than NSW in preparation and testing of plans for a pandemic. In our view NSW Health needs to balance the costs of over-prep

Published

Actions for Condition of State Roads

Condition of State Roads

Transport
Infrastructure
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Procurement
Project management
Service delivery

The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) has improved the overall surface condition of State Roads in the last decade. Country road surfaces are now generally much better. Ride quality has improved and cracking has been reduced. The RTA has also achieved a substantial reduction in the number of structurally deficient bridges over the same period.  Despite a significant increase in the State’s contribution to maintenance since 1999-2000, the RTA h

Published

Actions for Agencies working together to improve services

Agencies working together to improve services

Premier and Cabinet
Treasury
Justice
Transport
Education
Internal controls and governance
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration

In the cases we examined, we found that agencies working together can improve services or results. However, the changes were not always as great as anticipated or had not reached maximum potential. Establishing the right governance framework and accountability requirements between partners at the start of the project is critical to success. And joint responsibility requires new funding and reporting arrangements to be developed.   Parliamenta

Published

Actions for Management of road passenger transport regulation

Management of road passenger transport regulation

Transport
Management and administration
Regulation
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration

The Audit Office is of the opinion that the Department’s levels of regulatory activity in respect of road passenger transport regulation may have exceeded optimum levels. The Department’s current focus on processing activity limits the Department in achieving all of its desired outcomes. The Audit Office considers that a change in the approach to undertaking and managing road passenger transport regulatory activities would achieve better outcomes for the

Published

Actions for Hospital emergency departments: Delivery services to patients

Hospital emergency departments: Delivery services to patients

Health
Management and administration
Service delivery
Workforce and capability

There have been notable changes in the provision of emergency department services over the last decade, principally by increasing the number, seniority and training of staff and upgrading facilities. More recently, programs have focussed on achieving improvements in emergency department waiting times (the time taken to see a doctor) and access block (delay in accessing a hospital bed). However, these programs have had limited effect. Although waiting tim