Health spends big on advice

TOWNSVILLE Hospital and Health Service spent more than $1.1 million on management consultants last financial year.

The large and complex service had an operating budget of $1.1 billion in the 2018-19 financial year and treated a record number of North Queenslanders.

The Townsville Bulletin can reveal about 50 per cent of the money spent on management consultants was allocated to the pending Townsville Hospital and Health Service’s Master Plan development.

The plan, which tracks the large-scale development needed to meet the growing healthcare needs of North Queensland in the next two decades, is likely to be competed this financial year.

The health service spent a total of $1.4 million on consultants in human resources, finances and accounting and management last financial year, with consultants working on a number of major projects.

This major planning move for the health service coincided with a record year in demand for services and the unprecedented 2019 floods.

Health service board chair Tony Mooney said 121,823 North Queenslanders went through emergency departments, 8000 had elective surgeries and more than 380,000 people were seen through outpatients clinics, and there was a need for experts to help streamline practices.

“On occasion it is valuable to bring in experts to help us improve our services and navigate the complex challenges we face in healthcare delivery moving into the future,” Mr Mooney said.

But it was the master plan that attracted the biggest investment from the hospital.

“The master plan consultancy engaged town planners, engineers and experts that have specialist skills not available within our organisation,” Mr Mooney said.

“This work also builds in the commitment from Townsville University Hospital and James Cook University to establish Tropiq – a health and knowledge precinct aiming at establishing Townsville as an international leader in tropical medicine.”

The health service facilities stretch from Richmond and Hughenden in the west, north to Cardwell, south to Home Hill and east to Magnetic and Palm islands, and employ more than 6400 staff in five clinical service groups, two clinical service divisions and one non-clinical directorate.

The specific cost and detail of the consultancies is protected by commercial in confidence.