Department of Health Library Services ePublications - Historical Collection
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Northern Territory Department of Health Library Services Historical Collection
I TERRITORY HEAL TH SERVICES
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3 0820 00013465 5
ROYAL DARWIN HOSPITAL
MANAGEMENT BOARD
ANMJAL REPORT FOR 1984/85
CENTRAL LIBRARY
2 3 OCT 1998
TERRITORY HEALTH SERVICES
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22 October 1985
ROYAL DARWIN HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD NORTHERN TERRITORY
Al I correspondence to: Chairman
Royal Darwin Hospital Mana1ement Board, P.O. Box 41326, DA RW I N , N • T • S 7 92
The Hon R Hanrahan MLA Minister for Health PO Box 3146
DARWIN NT 5794
My dear Minister
In accordance with the provisions of the "Hospital Management Boards Act 1980", I wish to submit to you the 1984/85 Annual Report of the Royal Darwin Hospital Management Board.
Yours sincerely
Norma Grant CHAIRMAN
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ROYAL DARWIN HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD ANNUAL REPORT 1984/85
INTRODUCTION
The Royal Darwin Hospital provides an excellent range of facilities and services to a region the population of which is in the vicinity of 100,000.
The number of authorised beds is 350 and the bed occupancy rate for 1984/85 was 288 with a total of 16,306 admissions.
The Royal Darwin Hospital Management Board is required to supervise the standard of patient care provided and to maintain liaison between the hospital and the community.
BOARD MEMBERSHIP
Aeeointed_Meabers Mrs Norma Grant
· Mr John Sawyer Mr George Johnstone Mrs Dorothy Fox Mr Ray Rushbury
Chairman
Deputy Chairman
Deeartmental_Reeresentatives Mr Kevin Larkins
Mrs Lois Johnston
Regional Director, Darwin Region Director of Nursing
Mr Barry Thomas is presently Secretary to the Board, but during the year the position has been held by:
Mr Peter Carroll Ms Jennifer Prince Mr Frans Schoolmeester
Changes_in_Board_"e•bershie
Mr F J Hollingsworth tendered his resignation effective 29 November 1984, due to an interstate transfer.
Mr J A Sawyer was appointed on 16 December 1984.
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Dr E Heath, Regional Medical Director resigned November 1984 and was replaced by Dr P Wilson.
Mrs E Ots, Regional Director was appointed Assistant Commissioner, Public Service Commissioner's Office in January 1985.
Mr K Larkins was appointed Regional Director in April 1985.
The membership of the Board fell from 8 to 7 because of reorgan.isatiOJ:i. within the Department of Health. Sections 7.2 and 7.4 of the Hospital Management Boards Act of 1980 now both refer to the Regional Director, where formerly 7.2 was the then Medical Superintendent of the hospital. The Board has requested this anomaly be investigated by the Legislation Branch, NT Department of Health.
During 1984/85 the portfolio of Minister for Health has been held by the Hon N Dondas, the Hon J Robertson and the Hon R Hanrahan.
Board_Mem~ershie_on_Comaittees
Patient Care Committee (Non-Board Representative) Medical Advisory Committee Theatre Users Committee
Mr J Sawyer Mrs N Grant Mrs D Dash
Mr G Johnstone FRCS Mr G Johnstone FRCS
AMENDMENTS TO THE HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARDS ACT 1980 DURING 1984/85
The Hospital Management Boards Amendment Act 1984 has amended Section 22 of the Principal Act to read:
Section 22 1. Ce)
Cf)
to raise money, spend and pay out any money raised, for such uses in the hospital as are approved by the Minister.
to accept and receive money donated to the hospital, and to spend, pay out any money donated, for uses in the hospital.
Cf) and Cg) in the Principal Act become Cg) ·and Ch) in the Amended Act.
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Section 24 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting sub-sections (1) and (2) of the Principal Act with:
1. Subject to this section, a Board shall ensure that the hospital in respect of which it is established is inspected at such times and by such number of members as it, from time to time, approves.
2. A person working in a hospital shall give the members approved of under sub-section (1) by the Board, such assistance as those members require in relation to the inspection.
On 16 August 1984 Cabinet authorised the Treasurer to open a trust account for each of the Hospital Management Boards when requested by such Boards - no legislative change was necessary.
On 19 October 1984 the new Determination from the Remuneration (Statutory Bodies) Act replaced the Determination made on 16 Decembe·r 1982 affecting Board members' fees.
MONTHLY REPORTS TO THE BOARD
Formal communication is maintained by the submission to the Board of monthly reports in the form of the minutes of the following Hospital Management Committees:
Infection Control Ambulatory Care
Drugs and Therapeutics Medical Records
Allied Health Professionals
and through monthly written reports from Director of Nursing
Finance Manager Maintenance Manager Chief Security Officer
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HOSPITAL INSPECTIONS
After discuision, the majority of members were in favour of conducting quarterly inspections as a "Board Group" rather than on an individual basis.
The following inspections were conducted during the year:
25_Jult_1984:
19_Seeteaber_1984:
Radiology
Paediatric Ward
Radiology and Catering Departments
Several problems were brought to the Board's attention in respect of the compactus filing unit namely:
unit is heavy and cumbersome to move.
sections do not remain in set position but tend to roll slowly closed.
insufficient dividers.
Radiographic and tomographic techniques together with the different .equipment used for X-ray procedures were explained to the Board.
Catering Department
Several new initiatives were outlined encompassing:
proposal to provide staff with formal certificate qualifications in cookery after satisfactory completion of an appropriate course.
revised system of menus whereby patients would be provided with details of meal selection content, number of calories contained, · nutritional value etc, each accompanied by a photograph of actual meal.
initial issue of standing operational procedures in respect to Northern Territory hospital food services and accountability.
The high standard of cleanliness within this Department was noted favourably by the Board.
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27_Februarr_1985 (Wards 7A, 78 and 4A)
The Board understands that there are a number of apparently unsolvable problems in relation to both 4A and 78.
Ward 4A
This ward was not designed for nursing home and geriatric type patients.
The design of the showers and toilets does not permit two people to handle a heavy, invalid patient.
The special needs of long term patients cause considerable staff logistic problems, ie. larger staff numbers are needed for short periods in the morning and evening.
The Board's conclusion was that there is an obvious lack of nursing home facilities within the community.
Ward 78
This ward was originally designed as a cardiac care unit and is not very appropriate to infectious paediatric nursing.
There is frequent overcrowding.
It was the opinion of the Board that the early provision of the Chi ldrens Hospital seems to be the only reasonable solution.
13_June_1985 (Wards SB, 68 and 78)
This was the Board's annual inspection and was conducted in the company of the then Acting Secretary for Health, Dr E Stack.
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GENERAL BUSINESS
1. RAN Wives Association was advised that playground equipment would be a worthwhile project for their fund raising goal of $10,000 for the proposed Children's Hospital.
2. Discussion regarding provision of a second access road to the Royal Darwin Hospital in the event that the only existing access be blocked or flooded. This matter has yet to be resolved.
3. Received a detailed report on asbestos - containing products at the Royal Darwin Hospital from the Regional Engineer, Royal Darwin Hospital and forwarded to the Minister for Health for his information.
4. Patient Services, Primary Care Clinic requested:
Tape Recorder/tapes
TV/video unit/tapes for children
Change tables for 2 Ladies rooms - not actioned
5 $612 proceeds from Royal Darwin Hospital inaugural Ball forwarded to Royal Darwin Hospital Miss NT Entrant in the quest which raises essential funds for disabled children.
6. Articles outlining role, composition and function of both the Royal Darwin Hospital Management Board and Patient Care Committee inserted in the Regional Bulletin.
7. On the Board's recommendation four (4) car parking bays at the hospital became 16 designated motorcycle parking bays to make available more parking space for motor vehicles.
8. Hospital accommodation arrangements for families of sick children clarified.
9. The issue of Hospital Symbol Directional Signs raised on a number of occasions is being actioned by Ambulatory Care Committee.
10. Report sought and received on listeners' responses to the Chief Minister's radio broadcast on the subject of the transfer of nursing staff training from the hospital to the Darwin Institute of Technology - the response was overwhelmingly in favour of such a course of action.
11. Congratulatory Letter to Sr A Arthur on the excel Lenee of the monthly Infection Control Report and suggested such essential information be provided to other Territory Hospitals.
12. On 5 December 1984 an impressive graduation and prize giving ceremony for general and midwifery nurses was held. One of the prizes was donated by the Board.
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13. In response, the A/Secretary advised of the appointment of a Specialist Project Officer (on a part-time basis) to prepare a "Hospital Service Role" document for Royal Darwin Hospital.
14. Patient Care Committee report received on its activities from 31 August to 23 November 1984.
15. Board briefed on the Adult Assessment and Care Team, a multi-disciplinary team of hospital and community health staff concerned with assessment and services to aged and disabled adults having difficulty ... living independently in the Community.
16. The Board hosted the Heads of Churches Committee providing them with an opportunity to formulate a co-ordinated approach to establishing the hospital's chap Lai ncy needs. It was determined the Heads of Churches apply to the Government through the Department of Health for a Grant In Aid allocation.
17. Director Medical Services advised on admission ·and pre-admission procedures, that they had been scrutinised and amended and that the position would be alleviated with the proposed opening of the fifth operating theatre and the availability of additional day care beds.
18. Details of the proposed Sexual Assault Clinic presented.
19. Cyclone Gretel - damage was minor, the main problems being water inundation in the hospital entry foyer, laundry and building 4 plant room, and up-rooted trees and vegetation in the swimming pool area.
20. The Board expressed its support to Management during the Accreditation process. A summary of recommendations made by the Accreditation Panel will be made available to Board members.
21. Circular 1985/1 advising all Health Department staff of the intention to hold a Royal Darwin Hospital Ball and 1985/2 confirming final arrangements for the Ball.
2 2 • Su bm i s s i on to Sec re t a r y for He a L th re q u es t i n g the Late s t i n form a t i on regarding Box Jellyfish be included in a Public Awareness Programme to be Launched before the next Wet Season.
PATIENT CARE COMPIITTEE
The Patient Care Committee provides the community with a service for monitoring issues relating to health care both at the Royal Darwin Hospital and Community Health Centres in the Darwin Region.
During the period 31 August 1984 to 30 June 1985, the Patient Care Committee was contacted on 44 occasions on a wide variety of issues.
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Complaints totalled 24. Areas of concern included:
• admissions
• appointments
• Primary Care Clinic
• Radiology
• Paediatrics
• Medical
• Surgical
• Specialists
• Labour Ward
• Noise levels
cigarette smoking in the hospital.
With the co-operation of Management all matters were investigated and resolved to the satisfaction of the Committee.
Eleven suggestions to improve services/public relations were received and referred to Management for consideration.
Five queries regarding services provided by Royal Darwin Hospital/Community Health were received and answered.
Three internal (staff) communications were received and actioned.
NURSING EDUCATION
Nursing education programmes continued on a regular basis throughout the year.
These included:
student training to sit hospital qualifying examinations and examinations for registration;
Midwifery Programmes with students also from Alice ·Springs, Katherine and Gove Hospitals;
combined refresher courses for General and Midwifery nurses;
a four week programme to prepare Enrolled Nurses currently working in the Operating Theatre to broaden their scope of duties;
a six week Operating Theatre course for Enrolled Nurses;
a six week Critical Care Course for Enrolled Nurses.
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Transfer_of_basic_nursing_Qrograa_to_Darwin_Institute_of_Technologl
A recent press statement advised that 1986 will see the last intake of students to the hospital certificate basic nursing programme.
A diploma in nursing will commence at Darwin Institute of Technology in 1987.
Students in the certificate programme will complete their course at the hospital.
Recruitment
A major advertising campaign for nurses was conducted in New South Wales on 19 20 January. Attractive professional advertisements were run in conjunction with the Northern Territory Tourist Bureau advertisements in Sydney newspapers.
Deputy Di rector of Nursing was in Sydney for a week to .answer on-the-spot enqu1r1es. Applications for registration/enrolment with the Nurses Board continue at a higher rate than in 1984.
INDUSTRIAL ISSUES
In August 1984, three members of the Board met with representatives of the hospital cleaning staff who raised the following matters:
overbearing reporting.
favouritism for some by superiors.
recruitment not through proper channels.
All complaints were drawn to Management's attention and have been thoroughly investigated.
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The Conciliation and Arbitration Commission awarded Nurses reduced working time, retrospective to 10 January 1985, in the form of a "19 day month".
The 38 hour week/19 day month was implemented for all nurses commencing 4 April 1985.
Negotiations are continuing between RANF and the Department on:
Rest Relief After Overtime Minimum Break Between Shifts Part-time employment
Non-nursing duties
GUESTS ADDRESSED THE BOARD
Dr K Fleming - Role of Board Members.
Hon Mr J Robertson - Minister for Health.
Dr Sherene Devanesen - Deputy Medical Superintendent.
Dr John Andersen - Assistant Medical Superintendent.
sr· Carol Pedersen - Detoxification Consultant from St Vincents Hospital, in
Darwin to assist the Department in setting up a Detoxification Unit.
RECOGNITION OF SERVICE
On 27 March 1985 the Minister for Health officiated at an unveiling at the Royal Darwin Hospital hosted by the Board.
Honoured were:
Dr G (Pat) Cowdy for a significant contribution in the field of Psychiatry to the people of the Northern Territory from 1966 - 1973.
Bust installed in the foyer of the Hospital.
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Dr Ken Moo (Darwin born) for years of service in the field of Ophthalmology to the people of the Northern Territory 1957 - 1980.
Bust installed in the foyer of the hospital.
Miss AK L Brennan, MBE whose photograph portrait was hung in the School of Nursing as a tribute to her Long and distinguished career in nursing.
Congratulations and best wishes were extended to the following upon retirement from the Royal Darwin Hospital:
Mr L Ihourad after 27 years service.
Sr K Haywood with 20 years service.
Mr M South with over 22 years service.
Norma Grant CHAIRMAN
