NSW Transition Newsletter July 2009 (289KB PDF)

Transfer of business

The official transfer of business for the NSW state based donor agency from ARCBS to NSW Health took place on the 1st July 2009. From that date the NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service went ‘live’ and all of the current agency staff became NSW Health employees. The 1st of July also marked a change for the incumbent Area Donor Coordinators to a standardised position description which reflects the new structure.

The Union Specific Consultative Committee process held with NSW Nurses Association has now concluded with all of the issues resolved. NSW Health would like to acknowledge all of the participants involved in this process as their professionalism and positive approach led to the successful outcome of the negotiations.

Agency Accommodation

After some unavoidable delays with computer delivery and office set up, the move of the agency staff from ARCBS in Clarence Street to Belgrave Street Kogarah took place on the 27th July.

The reception phone number is 02 8566 1700 and fax number is 02 8566 1755. Individual land-line numbers will be notified in due course. Mobile numbers and the page number (02 9963 2801) does not change.

Many thanks to the staff for their ongoing patience and understanding. We wish them all the very best settling into their new office and work environment.

Congratulations to Steve Robson for the site development and management and thanks to the agency staff for their style and colour consults!

ACT Health, NSW Health and GSAHS Agreement

Work has commenced on the development of a regional service level agreement for the provision of services and support of the CNS organ and tissue donation positions in the Greater Southern Area Health Service and multi-organ and tissue donor retrieval support and assistance in ACT hospitals.

NSW Health values this partnership with ACT Health and looks forward to working with them into the future.

Funding and Performance Agreements

All of the Australian jurisdictions including NSW Health have recently signed performance and funding agreements with the National Authority. Work has now begun on drafting the AHS performance and funding agreements with NSW Health.

The National State Medical Directors group is developing the National data set that will be the basis for on-going data collection and reporting in NSW.

Strategic Plan Development

Based on the strategic goals identified in a key stakeholder workshop held at NSW Health in April, the transition project team have developed the first draft of the NSW OTDS Strategic Plan. The first round of review will be held with the participants of the stakeholder workshop before being sent out for wider consultation.

The strategic plan will form part of the NSW OTDS Business Plan along with the operations, financial, human resources, education and financial plans.

Recruitment of Medical, Nursing & Agency Positions

With the assistance of the Area Health Services, creation and recruitment of the new medical and nursing organ and tissue donation positions and the NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service operations manager, business manager and administrative assistants is underway. A one-off central advertisement covering all of the medical and nursing positions was run in the Sydney Morning Herald on the 27th June and the positions have being posted on www7.health.nsw.gov.au/healthjobs. 

Nursing Education

The Nursing Education and Orientation program is very close to completion and a draft has recently been supplied by request to the National Agency Managers group.

The structured competency based program includes the appointment of preceptors, pre and post test, completion of a learning contract with associated learning modules and competency assessment. The program is based on a learning and education framework and includes extensive resources for the preceptor and the new practitioner. Congratulations to all members of the Nursing education working party chaired by Ms Nicole Coleman.

Area on-call coverage

The Area Clinical Nurse Consultants and State Donor Nurse Consultants met recently with the NSW Nurses Association and NSW Health to begin discussions for providing State wide Area on-call coverage out of hours. A discussion paper was developed that listed the options for consideration and a working party has been created to develop rostering options.Area Medical after hours on-call coverage and rostering options will be considered once recruitment has taken place and education for the new positions has commenced.

Contact: Do not hesitate to contact the transition project team if you have any questions or concerns. Project Manager: KevinForward 9391 9624, State Medical Director Dr Deepak Bhonagiri c/-9391 9624 , Jane Treloggen 9391 9585.