Department of Health Library Services ePublications - Historical Collection
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To apply preservation treatments, including digitisation, to a high value and vulnerable Historical collection of items held in the Darwin and Alice Springs libraries so that the items may be accessed without causing further damage to the original items and provide accessibility for stakeholders.
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Please note: this document is part of the Historical Collection and the information contained within may be out of date.
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Northern Territory Department of Health Library Services Historical Collection
TENNANT CREEK HOS PIT AL
MANAGEMENT BOARD
ANNUAL REPORT 1984/85
to
THE HONOURABLE MINISTER FOR HEAL TH
HISTORICAL COLLECTION
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TENNANT CREEK HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
All ~~~denoe to;
OWNM Telex: M8Ul3
Tulep~e: 62 ,202
Tunmwt Creel< fbSpl ta.l Jbn~e-rent Boarct P.O. Box ~6
T'fN',AITT OlLD\ N.T. 5760 In reply quoto
I
13 Fel:>ruatl7 1986
Miniete~ for Health PO Box 3436
01\.RIUN NT 5794
• Mf Dear Minieter
In accordance with the provisions ot the Hospital Management .Board Act i980, I have pleasure in submitting our 1984/85 Annuo.1 Report.
erel1
•
CENTRAL LIBRARY
2 3 oc 1998
TERRITORY HEAL TH SERVICES
R E P O R T
0 F T H E
TENNANT CREEK HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
F O R
TWELVE MONTHS ENDING JUNE 1985
DECEMBER 1985
Telex: AAB1213 Telephone: 62 2202 In reply quote
I
MEMBERSHIP
0 0 ( ~ . S
TENNANT CREEK HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
All correspondenc.L' to;
Qmirman
Tennant Crt.vk llospi tal Managarent Do~d P .0. Box J.16
Tl:.."'NANT CH.lJ:X N. T. 5 7GO
TENNANT CREEK HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD - - -
ANNUAL REPORT JULY 1984 - JUNE 1985
MRS KM ROSE MR D SHARP MR F KITTLE MRS C AFIANOS DR G NEITHE DR M GRIFFITHS GEORGE ORMROD MS P EVANS
CHAIRMAN
(DEP CHAIRMAN-RESIGNED 1/10/84) O.A.M.
MEMBER
(APPOINTED DEP CHAIRMAN) MEMBER
REGIONAL DIRECTOR DIRECTOR OF NURSING
The year July 84 - June 85 has been one of significant change and development in the delivery of Health Services in the Barkly Region.
Regionalization has been effected, resulting in the establishment of new positions i.e.
Regional Director
Director of Medical
&
Allied Services Director of NursingAdministrative Officer And all other regional positions.
As with all new management structure, some teething problems have arisen, ranging from housing to the necessity for new duty statements to be written.
It is the Boards opinion that unsufficient attention was paid to counselling staff on the change over, and community expectations have not been realized.
It was evident that administration of the Barkly Area from Alice Springs was becoming less efficient and that Barkly Staff needed to have authority to take and initiate action without referring to Alice Springs for decision .
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In March a Regional Director, Director of Nursing and Administrative Officer commenced duty in Tennant Creek and the Barkly Region became effectively established for the overall management of policy implementation, financial and staff control, and the efficient operation and coordination of hospital, Urban and Rural Health Services. The new position of Director of Medical and Allied Health Services, has yet to be filled. Routine administrative support to the Region for salary processing, supply and accounts processing continues to be undertaken on an agency basis by the Alice Springs Region.
BUILDING AND GROUNDS
Tennant Creek Hospital is fortunate in that buildings are relatively new and maintenance is excellent.· The grounds are extensive, attractively landscaped and have attracted favourable comment from both private individuals, and K.A.B.
Judging Team.
Sprinkler systems are being installed, progressively, as a labour and time saving strategy, and the lawns reflect these improvements.
Extra security lighting has been strategically placed within the Nurses Village, greatly improving lighting in this area.
Four new closed solar Hot Water Systems have been installed at the Sisters Quarters. They replace the existing systems which are in service since the
building of the flats and were unservicable.
Security has been an area of concern, and a report was prepared for Board consideration copy "Appendix 811 is attached.
Minister for Housing has allocated 3 residences (1 house, 2 x units) to Regional positions.
PRIVATE SERVICES
During the year, a provision of fortnightly private Physiotherapy sessions have been trialed, and discontinued owing to minimal community responses •
. . . /3
OD\~ •
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Like wise, central clinic GP's discontinued the provision of their fortnightly clinics for the same reason.
It should be noted that both the major employers in the area (Mining Company and Meatworks) have chosen to contract a private practitioner from Alice Springs to serve their routine needs on a fortnightly basis.
Though the cornnunity (through representation to local Council) continues to express a desire for a private GP to establish in the town, the Board
feels the evidence is that a GP operating from Hospital premises is unlikely to succeed. Should a private practitioner wish to establish a practice in Tennant Creek, offices should not be on Department of Health campus.
DIABETES SCREENING
In March Apex arranged a programme for Hospital Staff in conjunction with St John Ambulance to conduct a 3 day screening of residents for diabetes.
Two hundred and forty eight (248) residents of Tennant Creek were screened in the St John Ambulance caravan, set up in the Post Office car park in main street. A very successful exercise and an excellent PR exercise. Our thanks to the Apex Club of Tennant Creek is herein recorded.
HOSPITAL INSPECTION
In accordance with the Act, Dr Stack conducted the Annual Inspection with Board Members during month of June. Individual Board Members have undertaken to inspect different areas of the hospital accompanied by appropriate member of Hospital Staff.
STAFFING
Recruitment of trained medical staff continues to be a problem for the hospital.
It should be recorded that nursing staff have worked excessive amounts of o·vc, time due to staff shortage, and for some months voluntary elected to forego the 38 hour week to which they were entitled. The Board wishes to· record appreciation for this.
• •• I 4
aolis
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When advertisements placed within Australia failed to attract any applicants for position of Acting Medical Superintendent and recruitment was offered overseas, considerable delays are experience in dealing with the Federal Department for Immigration.
PATIENT CARE COMMITTEE
Patient Care Committee of (2 persons) was established, and has proceed a realiable method of dealing promptly with both complaints and queries from the col'M'lunity.
Regular advertisem~nts appear in the local press advising membership of the Patient Care Committee and phone members on which they can be contacted.
PATHOLOGY SERVICES
Tennant Creek Hospital has been in the practice of using a private service in Alice Springs for Pathology tests unable to be dealt with in Tennant Creek.
In view of sharply using costs, it is intended to provide additional equipmen~, and training for staff to extend the capability of our own facility and
contain costs.
MEETINGS OF BOARD
Monthly meetings have been held during year July 84 - 85, with additional meetings called in circumstances require. It is regretted that no member was able to attend the Annual Meeting of Chairman of the Hospital Boards, held in Gove.
KAY ROSE CHAIRMAN 13/12/85.
