This is a powerpoint presentation converted to PDF regarding a consumer perspective on our state health system. Just the basic facts and what we need to still address, even after health reform. Brought to you by Jodiesjourney.com

1. The Queensland
Health System
From A Consumer
Perspective
Presented by: Jodie Guerrero
Health Consumer Advocate
www.jodiesjourney.com

2. YOUR ILLNESS OR DISABILITY JOURNEY IS
VALUABLE & SHOULD BE HEARD

3. What is Jodie’s Journey & Who is Jodie?
JODIESJOURNEY.COM
is one women’s blog journey through blood cancer.
AND
CONSUMERCONSULTATION.COM
is a valuable & handy patient connection portal.

5. All About Jodie
• I am a mother of 2 children (Julia/10 & Anna/8).
• Wife of 15 years to Greg.
• Our eldest daughter (Julia) has multiple
disabilities (Moderate-Severe ASD & an
Intellectual Disability) – special school.
• Member of the Family Advisory Council,
Queensland Children’s Hospital, opening 2014.
• Prior to my health consumer experiences, I
completed qualifications in Dental Nursing and
also worked in radio, retail, airlines & worked
with Boeing Aerospace in Brisbane.

7. JODIES JOURNEY HEALTH CASE
IS FOUND ON THIS PAGE:
http://www.jodiesjourney.com/jodies_triumph/jodies_case
• SEPTEMBER/2006 - whilst working Full-time in Aerospace –
delayed & very serious diagnosis of avid, stage 4, B Cell Non-
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
• Diagnosis all-up took 11 months, 7 doctors & 21 med. visits.
• I was becoming so sick – I was pleading -‘Cries for help’.
• I had avid disease through body, eating into bones, muscles.
• 8 months of chemotherapy, to save my life.
• Emergency radiotherapy - R leg function/damage spinal.
• B Cell Lymphoma is currently incurable, 10 years or cure.

8. JODIES JOURNEY HEALTH CASE
IS FOUND ON THIS PAGE:
http://www.jodiesjourney.com/jodies_triumph/jodies_case
• After 1st remission & returning to work - I sought answers,
through the HQCC & an investigation process.
• HQCC dismissed concerns, I requested an internal review.
• AUGUST/2008 – My symptoms returned & I relapsed again.
• In my 2nd relapse, I continued to press for investigation.
• AUGUST/2009 – My former GP was finally disciplined.
• This was a unamimous decision by the Medical Board.
• JANUARY/2010 – Symptoms returned – Leg disability.
However, I have been able to speak up & advocate, via
However,
webbing, blogging & social media. Raising awareness about
media.
health and social issues, as I live through them.

10. What is a Health Consumer Advocate (HCA)?
A person with passion, speaking up about health issues.
Many HCA’s are either former or current patients.
Also some are family of patients or community people.
Health reform and more representation are often called for.
Health workers & clinical staff also often become HCA’s.
There are hundreds of consumer representative groups in QLD.
They represent almost all health issues, excluding rare diseases.
HCA’s are increasing using social media as a springboard.

11. Why Do We Need HCA’s?
QUEENSLAND has the
highest rate of preventative
diseases in our nation.
The level of overall preventable
mortality is twice as high in
men as it is in women.
QLD Strategy for Chronic Disease –
2005 to 2015 outlines targeted efforts to
reduce behavioural risk factors such as
tobacco smoking,
physical inactivity, poor nutrition and
excessive alcohol consumption.
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/publicati
ons/corporate/chronic_disease/chronstr
at2005.pdf

12. MEDIA ATTENTION ON THE FOLLOWING
FAILURES OF QUEENSLAND HEALTH
Hospitals ER Crisis, Long Waits
Ambulance Ramping
Not Enough In-Patient Beds
In-
Clinical & Ward Staff Overworked
Poor Training
New Pay System Mess

13. HEALTH CONSUMERS QUEENSLAND (HCQ)
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/hcq/
• HCQ comprises a Ministerial Consumer Advisory Committee
and Secretariat supported by QLD Health.
• It has been established to contribute to the continued
development and reform of health systems and services in
QLD, by providing the Minister for Health with information
and advice from a consumer (patient) perspective and by
supporting consumer engagement and advocacy.
• HCQ aims to strengthen the consumer perspective in health
services policy, systems and service reform and improvement.
In acting as your voice in health, HCQ supports consumer,
community and patient involvement in all aspects and stages
of their individual and collective health care journey.

15. PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM, FROM 2007 TO NOW
• 24th November, 2007 - nation-wide health reform package.
• Information was gathered from the public via Community Cabinet.
• Our health system required a major overhaul.
• Particularly in regards to the lack of systemic consumer engagement .
• Several ‘Health Community Councils’ As part of the health reforms.
• Legislation has been introduced into Parliament, transforming existing Health
Service Districts into independent statutory bodies called ‘Local Health and
Hospitals Networks’ from 1 July 2012.
• Each network: required to develop strategies for consumer engagement.
• ‘Queensland Children’s Hospital’ – due to finish in late 2014.
• The project will combine all Peadiatric services at South Brisbane and has
supporters, plus opposers both in the print/broadcast media, social media.

16. A push by QLD HEALTH, to know our rights
• Many of us, as health consumers have little understanding of what our rights
are, as a consumer. This is particularly so for senior Australians.
• Many Australians feel uncomfortable complaining about their standard of
healthcare, either from their GP or from their local public or private hospital.
• Often as health consumers - we feel unable to voice our concerns in a GP
office, because we don’t wish to ‘rock the boat’ – which is a cultural
characteristic of many Australians.
• But with the advent of social media, including video sites, like You tube – as
But,
health consumers we are connecting more, discussing more and thinking
more about what we want in terms of our own health care.
• In Queensland, we have one important health document available to all
consumers in terms of their health and the quality of service they are
recieving.
The Australian charter of healthcare rights.
In Posters, flyers and documents
And in
www.health.gov.au (keyword – safety).

17. What happens when things go wrong?
‘Dr Death’ – Patel Case (2005-2010) and a new era in Queensland health.
• The highly publicised case of gross medical negligence by surgeon Dr. Jayant Patel
from 2005 to 2010 changed the entire face of QLD Health.
• Massive internal changes were made within QLD health (as a result of this case)
and many new policies were implemented in regards to making a difference in the
reporting, documenting & lodging of health service related complaints.
• The entire senario certainly made the nation sit up and take a look at their own
health reporting systems. A culture of transparent accountability was implemented
and a new concentration of the Quality & Improvement of our health services in
Queensland commenced.
Health Quality & Complaints Commission (HQCC)
www.hqcc.qld.gov.au
This commission was set up as an independent health watchdog for Queensland
health in 2005 and is the first port of call for all consumers who wish to report a
concern or incident relating to poor health care in Queensland. One of the most
important functions is to also ensure that all stringent standards are upheld by
individual & clinical medical staff. As part of an investigative process by the HQCC,
some serious cases are referred to the Queensland medical Board for further
investigation into the licensing of individual practioners.

18. AUSTRALIAN CHARTER OF
HEALTHCARE RIGHTS
ACCESS – You have the right to
health care.
SAFETY – You have a right to safe
and high quality health care.
RESPECT – You have a right to
respect, dignity & consideration.
COMMUNICATION – You have a
right to be informed about services.
Treatment, options & costs in a clear
& open way.
PARTICIPATION – You have a right
to be included in decisions and
choices about your care.
PRIVACY – You have the right to
privacy and confidentiality of your
personal information.
COMMENT – You have a right to
comment on your care and to have
your concerns addressed.

19. Every five years the Australian Bureau
of Statistics carries out an extensive
survey (ABS Survey of Disability,
Ageing and Carers) that gives detailed
statistics on the prevalence of
disabilities in the Australian
community. The last (1998) Survey
found that, of the total population aged
between 5 and 64 years, 19 per cent
(some 3.6 million people) had some
form of disability. The Survey also
found that an additional 3.1 million
people had some sort of impairment
but it was not bad enough to restrict
them in their daily activities. Of the
total of those who had some form of
disability (i.e. the 3.6 million group)
approximately 3.2 million people
experienced some sort of restriction
with respect to daily activities,
employment or schooling.

20. The NDIS will be a new support system for people
with a disability, their families and carers. It will
transform the way services are funded and
delivered, ensuring people are better supported and
enabling them to have greater choice and control.

22. KEY ADVOCACY ISSUES
REQUIRING ATTENTION
• Greater GP Awareness: blood disease signs
& symptoms of Lymphoma/Leukaemia.
• Safer & faster diagnosis of blood cancers.
• More support & research into the needs of
younger health consumers/young cancer.
• Stats: Only 1% survival improval in 30 yrs.
• More medical & social assistance for
families & women with illness/disability.

23. In Conclusion – Advocates like me – either as an
independent or within advocacy groups are changing the
system and Queensland Health wants to listen more than
ever. Couple this with the public’s new common access to
social media & the internet with our current state health
reforms – we are sitting on an enormous opportunity to go
forward and get key issues off the ground and fixed in this
state.
In addition, with the current problems in political climate –
the ALP team in government is ripe to be taken over by the
opposition. The opposition wants power yesterday and
they’re ears are ready. They are writing and preparing for
their next election package and looking for issues that are
being currently ignored.
THIS IS OUR TIME TO MOVE AND TO ADVOCATE!!

24. Jodie’s short form story
in
‘Inspiring Stories of
Hope’
Ark House Press
Available here today
for $14.95