Premier & Cabinet

Type:
Department of Premier and Cabinet Circular
Identifier:
C2009-21
Status:
Archived

C2009-21 Transitional Arrangements Following Dissolution of HealthQuest

Detailed Outline

Keypoints

  • HealthQuest has stopped appointments. Referrals currently with HealthQuest will be concluded by HealthQuest including any appeals.
  • Transitional arrangements have been established to operate effective from 1 June 2009. These arrangements will follow the current procedures, but will be delivered by other health providers.
  • A panel contract for new health providers is being established to replace HealthQuests function.

HealthQuest is being dissolved and is no longer accepting new appointments. Transitional arrangements have been agreed with public sector unions to manage the transition from HealthQuest to alternative health providers

1. Existing referrals

Assessments - Where an assessment has commenced HealthQuests current consultant physicians will complete the assessment which may include referrals to a specialist.

Review of Assessment - Employees currently have 21 days in which to seek a review. A final meeting of the HealthQuest Appeals Committee (HAC) will be held in June 2009, to determine any outstanding appeals. During the transitional period, existing members of HAC will continue to provide this service as an Advisory Panel to Department of Health.

2. Transitional Arrangements

Not all agencies are required to use HealthQuest. Transitional arrangements only apply to agencies that are required to use HealthQuest under legislation, industrial instrument or M2001-11 Revised 'Fitness to Continue' Procedures. The majority of assessments performed by HealthQuest relate to fitness to continue. Other services including those relating to medical certificates or pre-employment assessments may also be referred to the alternative providers described below.

Agencies not required to use HealthQuest may also use the arrangements set out below, or make alternative arrangements consistent with the applicable legislation, industrial instrument or policy.

Assessments - Agencies currently required to use HealthQuest should select from those nominated by the Director of Public Employment. I have nominated the occupational physicians on WorkCovers list of approved assessors for permanent impairment, as varied from time to time.

The list can be accessed by selecting Occupational Medicine from the Speciality menu on WorkCovers webpage.

Agencies should select from the list on the basis of:

  • Availability - that the first available appointment be obtained within a reasonable time frame; and
  • Location - an occupational physician closest to the employees workplace or home.

Information is to be provided to the employee and the nominated occupational physician in the same way as has been provided to HealthQuest. For Fitness to Continue matters, Memorandum 2001-11 must also be provided.

In the case of fitness to continue an occupational physician would make an assessment of the capacity of an employee to perform the required duties. If the occupational physician is unable to make this assessment in the absence of specialist advice, the physician is to refer the matter to a relevant specialist or other health provider.

Review of Assessments - Existing members of the appeals committee will continue to undertake reviews during the transitional period and will determine any remaining requests for review. Employees wishing to lodge an appeal can contact the Workplace Relations and Management Branch, Department of Health, Tel: (02) 9391 9357, or [email protected].

Valid grounds of appeal remain the same and are as follows:

Medical

  • If relevant information about an employee's medical condition was available and offered but not considered at the time of assessment.
  • If the employee can demonstrate that the reasons for occupational physicians recommendation were not consistent with the available information.

Procedural

  • If the employee was not given a copy of information with appropriate notice, provided by the employer prior to, or at the time of assessment and it contains material the client disagrees with.
  • If the information the employee received from the employer was incorrect or misleading.
  • The client's English language skills were deficient to the extent that an interpreter should have been used.

3. Permanent arrangements for the provision of health services

A permanent panel contract is being established through the Department of Commerce to provide services previously available through HealthQuest.

A review of the M2001-11 Revised 'Fitness to Continue' Procedures is being undertaken. Consultations with agencies and unions are occurring. New guidelines are expected to commence when providers are selected through the panel contract process.

John Lee
Director General

 

Which agencies does this Circular apply to?
All public sector agencies other than State Owned Corporations. This includes all agencies and employees in the Government Service (Public Service Departments, Non-Public Service Divisions and Special Employment Divisions), the Teaching Service, NSW Police and the NSW Health Service

Who needs to know about this Circular?
Human resources, employee relations, injury management, occupational health and safety.

Further information
Charlie Heuston, Industrial Relations Unit, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Tel. 9228 3631, [email protected]

Issued by
Industrial Relations Unit, Public Sector Workforce Branch in the Department of Premier and Cabinet
Contact
Charlie Heuston - 9228-3631 [email protected]
Date
17 June 2009
 
This Circular has not superseded any Circular and is to be read in conjunction with M2001-11 Revised 'Fitness to Continue' Procedures.

Overview

Compliance

Not Mandatory

AR Details

Date Issued
Jun 17, 2009
Review Date
Jun 13, 2024
Replaces
Replaced By

Contacts

Contact
Contact us
Phone
02 9228 5555
Publishing Entity
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Issuing Entity
Department of Premier and Cabinet