Lead Clinicians Groups – Implementation Update
In May 2010, the Australian Government announced the establishment of national and local Lead Clinicians Groups (LCGs), to enhance clinical engagement in the health system to improve patient care.
The Government has now released the Australian Government Policy Position for Lead Clinicians Groups.
The policy has been informed by a comprehensive consultation process, involving States and Territories, key stakeholder groups, clinicians, consumers and the public. There has been significant interest in the development of this initiative, with more than 115 organisations and over 390 individuals participating in multiple consultations, including: the public release of a discussion paper and subsequent position paper; meetings; interviews; workshops; and roundtable discussions.
The Government has now also announced the National Lead Clinicians Group membership.
Following a competitive Expression of Interest process, the National Lead Clinicians Group has now been announced by the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon. Full membership of the National Lead Clinicians Group will span healthcare sectors, including but not limited to hospitals, general practice, aged care, mental health, rural and remote and Indigenous healthcare.
The National Lead Clinicians Group will advise the Minister for Health and Ageing on nationally relevant priorities and strategies to improve patient care across health care sectors, promote evidence based clinical practices and assist with the prioritisation and implementation of clinical standards and guidelines.
The membership of the National Lead Clinicians Group is:
Dr Russell Stitz, AM RFD (Chair) - is a senior surgeon at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and has been Professor of Clinical Surgery and Head of the Discipline of Surgery for the University of Queensland. He is past President of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and past Chairman of the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges. He is also a Director of the Australian Medical Council.
Mr Tim Benson – an experienced senior health consumer representative and a member of both the national and state peak consumer health bodies, as well as the North Metropolitan Area Health Service Governing Council in WA.
Dr Mark Bowman - a practising dentist in Victoria, federal and state councillor of the Australian Dental Association and President of the Australian Society of Periodontology.
Professor David Clarke - Clinical Director of Community, Access and Partnerships, Mental Health Program at Southern Health in Victoria, and Head of Psychiatry within the School of Psychology and Psychiatry at Monash University.
Professor Nicholas Glasgow - a practising palliative medicine specialist and General Practitioner in the ACT, and Dean of the Australian National University Medical School.
Ms Helen Gosby - a nurse practitioner in the emergency department at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, NSW, and President of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners.
Ms Melissa Locke – a practising specialist paediatric physiotherapist (Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists), sessional lecturer at Griffith University and National President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
Dr Alasdair MacDonald - Director of Medicine, Clinical Integration, Reform and Stroke Care within the Tasmanian Northern Area Health Service and active in Education and Policy within the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
Ms Jennifer May - a practising general practitioner in rural NSW, GP Academic at the University of Newcastle Rural Clinical School, immediate past Chair of the National Rural Health Alliance and the Chair of the Rural Doctors Association Female Doctor’s Group.
Professor Tracey McDonald - an aged care research professor who holds the RSL LifeCare Clinical Research Chair of Ageing at the Australian Catholic University.
Dr Ameeta Patel - a practising rural general practitioner and clinical educator in the Northern Territory.
Dr Andrew Pesce - a practising obstetrician and gynaecologist, currently appointed as Clinical Director in Women’s Health in Western Sydney Local Health District and a member of the Local Health District Board, as well as the immediate past President of the Australian Medical Association.
Ms Toni Riley - a practising pharmacist in a regional Victorian pharmacy providing opiate replacement, primary care services and services to residential care facilities.
Dr Mark Wenitong - a founder and past President of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association, and the senior medical officer for Apunipima Cape York Health Council, an Aboriginal community-controlled health service delivering primary care to remote Cape York communities.
Associate Professor Craig Whitehead - a practising geriatrician at Repatriation General Hospital and the Regional Clinical Director for Rehabilitation and Aged Care.
The inaugural National Lead Clinicians Group meeting was held in Melbourne on 8-9 December 2011.
At the local level, the Government will continue to work with jurisdictions to establish local LCG arrangements in each State and Territory. Where appropriate and feasible, LCGs will build upon and complement, rather than duplicate, current and effective clinical engagement initiatives within States and Territories. They will act as a mechanism for promoting integration at the local level, including provision of advice to Local Hospital Networks and Medicare Locals, to reflect the needs of the local community.
For further information please contact the Department of Health and Ageing on (02) 6289 8760 or via leadcliniciansgroups@health.gov.au.
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