Lead Clinicians Groups

• What will Local and National Lead Clinicians Groups do?
• Will Lead Clinicians Groups include only medical doctors?
• Will Lead Clinicians Groups members be paid for their involvement in this initiative?

What will Local and National Lead Clinicians Groups do?

The establishment of the National and Local Lead Clinicians Groups is designed to enhance the engagement of clinicians at both national and local levels.

The National Lead Clinicians Group will advise the Minister of 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.

At the local level, Lead Clinicians Groups will advocate for, and advise on, local implementation of guidelines and standards. They will consider matters such as integration of patient-centered care pathways across local health care sectors that best meet the needs of the local community, and provide advice to Local Hospital Networks and Medicare Locals.

On 29 September 2011, the Australian Government Policy Position on Lead Clinicians Groups was released.

Will Lead Clinicians Groups include only medical doctors?

It is envisaged that Lead Clinicians Groups will be multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral, comprising doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, as well as consumer representation.

On 29 September 2011, the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon, announced the Chair and members of the National Lead Clinicians Group.

As well as a mix of General Practitioners and specialists, including those with expertise across mental health, palliative care, rural, remote and indigenous health, membership also includes: a senior health consumer representative; allied health practitioners, including those with expertise in physiotherapy, pharmacy and dentistry; a nurse practitioner; and an aged care research professor with a background in nursing.

Further information on the membership of the National Lead Clinicians Group can be found at Lead Clinicians Groups – Implementation Update.

Will Lead Clinicians Groups members be paid for their involvement in this initiative?

Members may be eligible for remuneration of sitting fees and travel expenses under the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.