Office of the Health Services Commissioner Annual Report 2008

The OHSC has continued to have a most
constructive working relationship with
the Minister for Health and the Secretary
and staff of the Department of Human
Services. Preparations are underway for a
review of the OHSC budget formula and I
welcome this.
The Health Records Act 2001 (HRA)
complaints indicate an increased community
awareness of health information rights
issues. Most complaints are about failures
by health service providers to provide access
to health records and health privacy issues.
HRA staff have been faced with some
perplexing and complex areas, particularly
where health service providers have
abandoned their records or where they
have retired, given up practice or have been
imprisoned.
The President of the Health Services Review
Council (HSRC), Robyne Schwarz, and the
other members of the HSRC continue to be
a source of support, expertise and
constructive criticism. This is appreciated.
During the year under review officers from
the OHSC presented de-identified case
studies to Council members so they could
become more aware of the complexities of
the work we do. These presentations were
very well received by HSRC members.
There were some changes to the
membership of the HSRC in the year under
review. Marcia Coleman and Dr Andrew
Rothfield completed their terms and I thank
them for the expertise and interest they
brought to the Council. Chris Altis and
Roslyn Glow also joined the HSRC.
Unfortunately because of better
opportunities elsewhere we were not able to
work with Chris as long as we would like to
have done.
As in previous years I take the opportunity
to thank the hardworking staff of the OHSC.
Mark McPherson, a senior conciliator, left
us to join the Medical Practitioners Board of
Victoria and we thank Mark for his
contribution to our work and his warm
sense of humour.
The HSC continues to be grateful to people
who provide expertise in the form of expert
clinical and other information. Without
them our work would be much more difficult.
In conclusion, I also thank the many
complaints officers who work in our
hospitals and other health services assisting
with health complaints resolution. Their
peak body, the Health Services Liaison
Association (HSLA), meets at the OHSC on
a monthly basis and these meetings are
attended by Lynn Griffin, Manager,
Assessment and Investigation. The OHSC
also provides a venue for HSLA seminars.
Any complaints officer who has not done so
should avail themselves of orientation
sessions with the OHSC and all are urged to
join HSLA which can provide information and
support to complaints officers in their
difficult work. The HSLA website is
www.hsla.com.au.
Beth Wilson
Health Services Commissioner
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Office of the Health Services Commissioner | Annual Report 2008