SWSAHS - Health Network - The Way Forward 2004

South Western Sydney Health Network - The Way Forward 2004/05 to 2007/08, June 2004 provides a blueprint for how hospital and health services will be provided to the people of South Western Sydney (SWS). As a key strategy of the SWSAHS Strategic Directions Statement 2004-2007, the Clinical Services Strategy will create an environment to provide high quality clinical care through safety and compliance, clinical review, best practice and clinical risk management.

This plan outlines a series of high-level recommendations that will define new approaches and standards for the delivery of clinical care in South Western Sydney Area Health Service (SWSAHS). It establishes directions that are intended to ensure that people in SWS have appropriate access to quality health services.

The plan is a living document. As such, it will be used to guide more detailed clinical services planning and delivery, which will require ongoing involvement and consultation with our community and health staff. Equally important, will be the development of workforce strategies to ensure services are developed in a sustainable way.

Over the past months SWSAHS has gathered information about the current and forecast needs of the population we serve, and has canvassed the views of staff, clinicians and members of the community including General Practitioners.

The direction for clinical services outlined in the plan is the culmination of the input and efforts of many people over the past 6 months and is a tremendous achievement. In particular, I wish to extend my gratitude to the Clinical Strategy Group for creating a new direction. This plan would not have been possible without their commitment and enthusiasm.

We in SWSAHS face significant challenges in meeting the current and emerging health care needs of our community brought about primarily by a growing and ageing population, social disadvantage and the sheer size of the Area we serve.

Through the direction outlined in this plan, SWSAHS will ensure the continued vitality and success of the health care system for the people of the South West of Sydney.