ACT Health Directorate recognises the role of consumer representativse

The ACT Health Directorate held an event yesterday to thank consumer representatives for our contribution to improving the quality and safety of health services.

Adele Stevens speaking at the Consumer
Representatives  Thank you event at the
Canberra Hospital

Dr Peggy Brown, Director General of the Health Directorate, spoke about the vital role consumer representatives play and the unique perspective we bring to the health care system.

Dr Adele Stevens, HCCA Vice President and one our our experienced consumer representatives also shared her experiences at how consumers can contribute to  improving quality and safety of health care.

Dr Sue Andrews, HCCA President, also spoke and below is a copy of her speech.

                                                                                                             

I’m really pleased to be here today as HCCA President - and also a consumer representative – on this occasion to recognise and celebrate the very important core business of our organisation – the Consumer Representatives Program - and the people who contribute to its success here in the ACT – the consumer representatives themselves, all volunteers who bring a great deal of experience and wisdom to their role.

HCCA President, Sue Andrews

The HCCA is committed to responsive, informed and accountable consumer engagement and participation across the health system, including health service provision, policy development, services planning, and accreditation processes.

The external review of the CRP undertaken in August last year indicated just what a good job we are doing, and also provided valuable feedback on where improvements could be made. The Consumer Representatives Program was highly regarded by the majority of respondents to the survey and by the vast majority of people spoken to during the review. Both the stakeholders and the consumer representatives agreed that the CRP is having a positive role in the health system.

HCCA consistently delivers well above what we are funded to provide, and the demand for consumer representatives and community consultation continues to increase. Last year more than 60 active consumer representatives provided input into the work of over 100 committees. But consumer participation also encompasses much more than having representatives on committees. While this continues to be a very visible and effective method of engagement, we are also developing different models of consumer participation, and our role in the development of consumer and community consultation on health policy is also becoming an increasingly important part of our work.

I think it is also good to remind ourselves that we are all consumers of health services no matter what “hat” we wear in any particular moment in our work and community lives – whether it is as a patient, carer, support person or a parent. And our experiences of the health system are informed by our age, gender, sexuality, cultural or religious backgrounds, our different physical abilities or our emotional and mental health – or any combination of the above!

So with our shared knowledge and experience it is important that as consumers we continue to work together to ensure that genuine, effective consumer participation is part of a consumer centred health care system. Successful consumer representation benefits not only our organisation, but the ACT Government and the ACT community.

We look forward to another busy and positive year ahead.

ACT health infrastructure community information session

The ACT Government is spending over $1b to shore up Canberra's health system for the future, through infrastructure development and improvements in the delivery of care. 

HCCA has launched a new program which aims to ensure that the consumer voice is represented at all stages of this major restructure of the ACT's health system. As part of this commitment to consumer involvement, HCCA is holding an information session for interested community members.

If you'd like to know more about this large scale redevelopment of the ACT's health system, come along to a free information session. Refreshments will be provided so please RSVP and include any dietary requirements.

When:     Tuesday, 5 March 2013
                  5:30pm-6:30pm

Where:    ACT Sports House

                  100 Maitland Street

                   HACKETT ACT 2602

RSVP:      By Friday, 1 March 2013
                   By phone on 02 6230 7800
                   By email at adminofficer@hcca.org.au

If you need any further information, please contact us by phone on 02 6230 7800 or by email at adminofficer@hcca.org.au.

Season's Greetings

Please click on the below image to see our Christmas Greetings

Consumer Representatives 2012 End of Year Celebration

What a year it has been! The HCCA Consumer Representatives Program (CRP) commemorated the successes of the program and the Consumer Representatives who have worked tirelessly throughout the year with an end of year celebration on Wednesday 12 December 2012 at the sunny Griffith Neighbourhood Hall. We were lucky to share the day with many of our colleagues and friends. 

Consumer Representatives who were sponsored by HCCA to attend a conference during the year were given the opportunity to make a brief presentation of the most interesting points they learned at their event and answer questions from the audience. Throughout the year, HCCA sponsored 22 different Consumer Representatives to attend 12 events to improve their ability to represent consumers in their field of interest.

As a result of our CRP Review, the membership of the CRP Steering Committee has changed. HCCA thanked the outgoing Steering Committee for their dedication to the committee and their integral role in developing the CRP over the years. The outgoing Steering Committee have made 59 endorsements of Consumer Representatives to committees this year, as well as helping us shape the CRP through the development of organisational policy. They have met every challenge with rationality and a great sense of humour and we would like to thank them for their time and commitment to improving our CRP. The new CRP Steering Committee members were introduced and we look forward to working with them in the coming year.

Bill Heins made a presentation to remind us all that change happens slowly, and that we can all make a difference with perseverance and passion. To wrap up the formalities of the day, Roger Killeen presented light-hearted awards to Consumer Representatives for their commitment to ensure the consumer voice is heard and heeded within the health system here in the ACT. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have been involved in the Consumer Representatives Program over the year for the many emails, phone conversations, meetings and passing comments that have helped the program grow over 2012. We look forward to working with you all to meet the challenges of 2013 and wish you all safe holidays and a very happy new year.

Caitlin Stamford 

Consumer Representatives Program Assistant 

Advance Care Planning

On Tuesday 20 November 2012, HCCA was host to an information session run by Respecting Patient Choices to promote the importance of Advanced Care Planning in the ACT. The session covered why advanced care planning is vital to protect our wishes, how an Advanced Care Plan can do this and how to properly complete an Advanced Care Plan. 

In the ACT, the Respecting Patient Choices Program encourages discussion among loved ones, rather than focusing on ticking boxes on paper. Advanced care can often be a difficult subject to raise but it is vital we discuss our wishes with our loved ones to alleviate the stress and pain of having to make choices about our healthcare if they are unsure of our wishes. End of life and medical emergencies can be a time of crises for our family and friends and can cause conflict. An Advanced Care Plan can help relieve this strain on them and the health professionals who make decisions about our care. 

Having a voice in our own health care throughout our life is an important step to being in control of the care we receive. In the ACT, the Advanced Care Plan allows us to record our wishes should there be a time where we are unable to communicate them effectively to those around us. The Advanced Care Plan allows for three different ways to communicate how we would like to be treated: the Enduring Power of Attorney, the Statement of Choices and the Health Direction. 

An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint another person or persons to make decisions on your behalf. An attorney can be anyone over the age of 18. In the ACT, there are different types of EPA and you can allocate different people to those roles. For example, you may want a different attorney for your financial interests than your attorney for your medical interests. It is important to choose someone you trust to carry out your wishes as this document will give them the power to speak on your behalf. 

Communication between you and your attorney/s is vital to ensure everyone is aware of what you want. A Statement of Choices (competent person / incompetent person) is a useful record of your particular wishes in certain situations. This document allows for more detail than the Enduring Power of Attorney, and although it is not legally binding it can be a very useful guide for your EPA when choosing what type of care you will receive if you are unable to communicate. When completing a Statement of Choices it is important to communicate clearly when you would like to receive or not receive particular treatment. For example, ‘I would like to receive CPR if I will be able to speak to others when I wake up’ is a much clearer direction then ‘I would like to receive CPR if I will be able to go back to the way I was’. 

A Health Direction is a legally binding document used when you are still competent and able to communicate to legally cease treatment.    

Regardless of your views on the care you wish to receive, it is vital to communicate them to those around you. The Advanced Care Plan in the ACT allows you to do this effectively and in a legally binding manner and encourages discussion between you and those who will be ultimately responsible for your health care.

If you would like more information about Advance Care Planning, visit the Respecting Patient Choices Website. 

Caitlin Stamford

Consumer Representatives Program Assistant