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Reports

Published

Actions for Cost of Alcohol Abuse to the NSW Government

Cost of Alcohol Abuse to the NSW Government

Treasury
Justice
Health
Premier and Cabinet
Management and administration
Regulation

The NSW Government does not estimate or report the total cost of alcohol abuse. The Audit Office of New South Wales’ sponsored research estimates it costs the government over $1 billion a year, or around $416 from each NSW household.   Parliamentary reference - Report number #235 - released 6 August 2013

Published

Actions for Making the Best Use of Public Housing

Making the Best Use of Public Housing

Community Services
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Regulation

There are 55,000 eligible applicants on the social housing waiting list, with some people waiting for more than ten years to get a house. The waiting list could be more than 86,000 by 2016 unless things change.   Social housing only meets about 44 per cent of need in New South Wales even though we have the largest social housing portfolio in Australia. Social housing falls into three groups. About 80 per cent is public housing which is owned and ope

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