The Queensland Government says changes to the role of hospital boards may result in job losses in administration, but more staff are being hired on the front line.
From next week, eight of Queensland’s 16 local hospital boards will soon assume all staff responsibilities.
Transfer of employees to hospital and health services boards:
- From July 1 2014:
- Gold Coast
- Children’s Health Queensland
- Metro North
- Metro South
- North West
- Sunshine Coast
- Townsville
- West Moreton
From July 1, 2015:
- Cairns and Hinterland
- Darling Downs
- Central Queensland
- Central West
- Mackay
- South West
- Torres and Cape
- Wide Bay
Three of them – Metro South, Metro North and Townsville – will also take control of assets like land or buildings from July 1.
All other major boards across the state are due to follow suit in the next 12 months.
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg cannot rule out job cuts in head office, but says there could be a net gain of positions overall.
“That’s possible over a period of time – we’re about less administration and more frontline service delivery,” he said.
“That’s why we’re employing an extra 1,800 doctors and nurses during the course of this year.”
Mr Springborg concedes the move to decentralise the system may result in job losses, but has declined to put a number on how many positions are in doubt.
“I think everyone understands those sorts of things – that as you put more of the focus into efficient management at a local level, there’s ultimately going to be transfer of some of those resources as well and positions may not ultimately be needed,” he said.
“If anyone seeks to actually indicate that this is about job losses, that is a massive beat-up.”
Mr Springborg says the Government has the resources for the change.
“Local control means more efficiency and better relevant local services and better outcomes for patients,” he said.
“That’s what we’ve seen since we’ve developed local hospital boards in Queensland.”
Source: ABC