Queensland Numbered Acts

HEALTH AND HOSPITALS NETWORK ACT 2011 No. 32 - SECT 47

(1) The chief executive may develop and issue health service directives to networks for the following—

(a) promoting service coordination and integration in the delivery of health services—

(i) between networks; and

(ii) between networks, the department and other service providers;

(b) optimising the effective and efficient use of available resources in the delivery of health services;

(c) setting standards and policies for the safe and high quality delivery of health services;

(d) ensuring consistent approaches to the delivery of health services, employment and the delivery of support services;

(e) supporting the application of public sector policies, State and Commonwealth Acts, and agreements entered into by the State.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), health service directives may be about the following—

(a) standards and policies for the healthcare rights of users of public sector health services;

(b) standards and policies for improving the quality of health services;

(c) the terms and conditions of employment for health service employees;

(d) the use by networks of support services provided by the department, other departments or other networks;

(e) the purchasing of goods and services under contracts and agreements entered into by the department, other departments or other networks;

(f) the provision of information to the chief executive and other entities;

(g) responding to public health emergencies;

(h) the setting of fees and charges, including for the provision of services to private patients, for residential care, and for the supply of pharmaceuticals;

(i) other matters prescribed under a regulation.

(3) Health service directives may apply to all networks, some networks, or a stated type of public sector health service facility or public sector health service.

(4) If a health service directive about the terms and conditions of employment for health service employees is inconsistent with an industrial instrument, the industrial instrument prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.

(5) Subsection (4) does not apply if the terms and conditions of employment in the health service directive are more favourable to the employee than those in the industrial instrument.

(6) In this section—

delivery, of health services, includes—

(a) matters that support the delivery of health services, including—

(i) the establishment and operation of clinical networks; and

(ii) the training of health professionals in public sector health service facilities; and

(iii) the engagement of independent contractor visiting medical officers or other contracted health professionals; and

(iv) private practice arrangements for health professionals; and

(v) the management of information, including the way in which information is captured, collated, shared and reported; and

(vi) research, innovation and the application of intellectual property; and

(b) undertaking capital works for proposed public sector health service facilities; and

(c) the provision of health services to public patients in private health facilities.