THE disbandment of the ACT Health Council, for the Local Hospital Network Council, caught the ACT Greens by surprise – who only learnt of the decision on Tuesday.

ACT Greens health spokesperson Amanda Bresnan objected to the Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher’s decision to disband the ACT Health Council, and warned that governments must shift their focus beyond hospitals if they are to assist in improving people’s health outcomes.

“Basically, the first time we heard about the Health Council being disbanded was on Tuesday,” she said.

A spokeswoman for the Liberals said that the parliamentary party had been told about the move before Tuesday.

Ms Bresnan said: “On March 29 this year in the debate on the Health Amendment Bill, to establish the Local Hospital Network, nothing was mentioned by the Minister to disband the Health Council or indeed before that, and I noted in my speech that we would not want to see any move to disband the Health Council.

“The Local Hospital Network Council will be focused on implementing issues around the Local Hospital Network, and we lose the far broader perspective the Health Council had, in particular, to look at social and lifestyle related issues, such as obesity, which have a major impact on a person’s health.”

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said there was little logic in duplicating the roles of the new bodies which have been established through National Health Reform, through the retention of the former Health Council.

“The new Local Hospital Network was established last month providing a range of dynamic, experienced and committed Canberrans who will come  together to support the implementation of National Health Reforms in the ACT, and provide high level strategic advice to the government,” she said.

“The new Network Board will have strong links with the new Medicare Local which is currently being established by the ACT Division of General Practice.  Cross-sectorial links are important between the bodies.

“As my statement said today, the outgoing Health Council have done a great job over the years and for that I have thanked them.”