Reports
Actions for Mental health post-discharge care
Mental health post-discharge care
On 17 December 2015 the NSW Acting Auditor-General, Tony Whitfield, released a report on the care that is provided to mental health patients in the first seven days after they are discharged from acute mental health units. The audit examined models of care provided by five Local Health Districts: Northern NSW, Sydney, Western Sydney, Central Coast, and Murrumbidgee. The audit looked at how well these Local Health Districts implemented the Ministry
Actions for Volume Five 2015 Premier and Cabinet
Volume Five 2015 Premier and Cabinet
Volume Five 2015 covered Premier and Cabinet agencies such as the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Office of Sport, Venues NSW, Barangaroo Delivery Authority and Infrastructure NSW.
Actions for Volume Four 2015 Treasury and State Finances
Volume Four 2015 Treasury and State Finances
For the third consecutive year, the General Government and Total State Sector Accounts received an unqualified auditor’s opinion following more than a decade of qualifications. Errors in agencies’ financial statements and the Total State Sector Accounts were corrected as necessary to ensure compliance with Australian Accounting Standards and the requirements of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983. Improvements to year-end financial report
Actions for Sydney metropolitan bus contracts
Sydney metropolitan bus contracts
On 9 September 2015, the Acting Auditor-General of New South Wales, Tony Whitfield, released a report on Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Contracts. All scheduled bus services in the Sydney metropolitan area are provided under contracts with the public and private operators. The contracts allow Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to determine what bus services are provided and to whom. This audit assessed the effectiveness of TfNSW’s design and management of
Actions for Volume Two 2015 focusing on Universities
Volume Two 2015 focusing on Universities
Generally, NSW universities are in a sound financial position, but average operating margins are falling and operating expenditure is growing faster than operative revenue. The university sector’s average operating margin fell from 6.6 per cent in 2013 to 4.8 per cent in 2014 and combined operating expenditure grew 0.9 per cent more than operating revenue. Employee expenses in 2014 increased by an average of 5.1 per cent and other expenses by 5.8
Actions for Managing length of stay and unplanned readmissions in NSW public hospitals
Managing length of stay and unplanned readmissions in NSW public hospitals
NSW Health has achieved considerable success over recent years in reducing average length of stay despite increasing pressure on hospital admissions by older and chronically ill patients. This success has been driven by changes in the way health services are delivered, such as the increasing use of same day care for treatments that previously required overnight hospital stays. There is a good level of length of stay information available and
Actions for Areas of focus from 2014
Areas of focus from 2014
The 2014 audits showed that the quality and timeliness of financial reporting have continued to improve. However, many agencies do not have financial sustainability indicators that provide early warning of management issues, such as an inability to meet financial obligations. Weaknesses were identified in information security, management of leave balances, asset management and internal controls. Governance issues and gaps in performance informat
Actions for Volume Ten 2013 focusing on Health
Volume Ten 2013 focusing on Health
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
Actions for Volume Eight 2013 focusing on Transport and Ports
Volume Eight 2013 focusing on Transport and Ports
Unqualified audit opinions were issued on the above corporations’ 30 June 2013 financial statements. During the year, Treasury issued TC 13/01 ‘Mandatory early close procedures for 2013’. This Circular aimed to improve the quality and timeliness of agencies’ annual financial statements. In 2012-13, application of the circular was made mandatory for State owned corporations. As a result, the port corporations were required to perform the early close proce
Actions for Reducing Ambulance Turnaround Time at Hospitals
Reducing Ambulance Turnaround Time at Hospitals
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