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Statewide Service Planning Framework for Ear Nose and Throat Services

Directions for Your Health System - Metropolitan Health Strategy, identifies the need to develop service planning frameworks for the provision of a range of specialist services including ear, nose and throat (ENT).

Terms of Reference

The following terms of reference for the ENT service planning framework have been developed:

1. Consider and provide recommendations on issues associated with the delivery of ENT services provided by the Victorian public health system, including:

• Utilisation;
• Demand and access to services;
• Service configuration;
• Relationships between service providers;
• Workforce and training;
• Monitoring and evaluation of outcomes;
• Specific needs of patients in rural areas; and
• Consideration of the interfaces with issues related to primary prevention and research.

2. The review process will include:

• Interpretation of projections for ENT services as provided by the Department from the Victorian Inpatient Forecasting Model (Hardes Model), along with other available data, and consideration of the implications of these on service provision;
• Examining trends in clinical practice, new technology and approaches to care that have potential impact on future demand for and delivery of services; and
• Consultation with key stakeholders.

3. Expected deliverables include:

• Service planning framework for the provision of ENT services in Victoria which describe models of care and consider equity of access, promote efficient and appropriate utilisation of services; are responsive to changes in need and clinical and technological advances; and specify criteria to evaluate and monitor the quality and performance of services.

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Advisory Committee

The Ear, Nose and Throat Service Planning Advisory Committee has been established to advise on the development of the service planning framework.

Committee Membership

The Committee is Chaired by Noreen Dowd, Director, Programs, Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services (MH&ACS), Department of Human Services and comprises representatives from the following organisations:

• Metropolitan Health Service Relations Branch, MH&ACS, DHS
• Rural and Regional Health and Aged Care Services Division
• Service Planning, Programs, MH&ACS, DHS
• Senior Medical Adviser, MH&ACS, DHS
• Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
• The Australian Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
• Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Nurses Group
• Audiological Society of Australia Inc.
• Person representing the views of consumers.

Timeframe and Consultation

The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2004.

The consultation phase will commence in February 2004 and include the following:

• distribution of a discussion paper to identify key issues;
• request for submissions and opinions from stakeholders in response to the discussion paper; and
• formal stakeholder consultations on service issues.