Community & Business
8 November, 2024
Clifton Hospital in a much better financial position
The financial position of the Clifton Co-op Hospital Ltd improved markedly during the last financial year, the operating deficit being more than halved when compared to the previous year.
Trading as Clifton Community Health Services (CCHS), the business saw a significant increase of more than $3 million in revenue to $9,988,320.
However there were also significant increases in some areas of expenditure.
Employee benefits and related expenses grew by more than $1.3 million from $5,108,829 in the 2022-23 financial year to $6,419,645 in the year ended June 30, 2024.
Expenses for contract labour rose by close to a million dollars.
In the previous year, CCHS had spent $1,302,293 on contract labour.
In 2023-24 this increased to $2,299,147.
CCHS ended the latest financial year with a deficit of $740,856, down from $1,545,431 a year earlier.
Repairs and maintenance costs were close to $100,000 more than the previous year and the cost of acquiring medical a supplies rose by more than $62,000 when compared to 2022-23.
In his annual report, the Chairman of the CCHS Board, Andrew Douglas said the improved financial performance had come despite sustained challenges associated with workforce availability, Covid-19, inflation, compliance costs and funding constraints.
Mr Douglas said consistent with the strategic direction shared over recent years, and under the theme of ‘grow our own’, the board and management have been focused on the priority areas of clinical excellence, workforce attraction and development, continued realignment of rostering in line with care requirements, streamlining systems, understanding the accommodation needs of the community, strategic site master planning and securing capital funding in line therewith, all while continuing to maintain quality services and reposition the organisation for financial sustainability.
“Amongst other key achievements, this has seen: the team adopt new technology and processes; increased clinical capacity; a Site Master Plan agreed by a wide cross-section of stakeholders including community representatives; capital grant funding secured from the Queensland Government which will see Vedette Villas expand by 10 new social housing units; and capital grant funding secured from the Australian Government which will see staff accommodation expanded by two self-contained one bedroom units and a three bedroom house,” Mr Douglas said.
“Residential Aged Care revenue has increased as a result of bringing six additional rooms online and an increase in fees under the ANACC (Australian National Aged Care Classification) funding model, with the latter being effectively countered by the legislated increase in award wages.
“Special thanks again this year goes to Ms Judy O’Leary for her commitment to our Residents and wider community as demonstrated via her unwavering dedication to the role of Care Manager, from which she is due to retire upon the commencement of her replacement this month.
“We are pleased to say that Judy’s calming and highly experienced presence around the facility will continue as she resumes her role as a Senior Registered Nurse in a part-time capacity.
“Albeit at significant financial investment, the Medical Practice has continued to service our patient base well with between three and five GPs on the team at any given point in time over the past year.
“That said, the search for additional Doctors continues, given the solid demand for medical services locally.
“On that note, we were most pleased to have welcomed Dr Jo Pappas back to the team in May, with her having long provided high quality care to our local community for many years previously.
“We were also pleased to have been able to assist our neighbours at Beauaraba Living, in Pittsworth, by managing their medical practice through a period of transition spanning almost 12 months.
“We again thank Ms Simone Jackson for having overseen the practice/s in a hybrid role of Practice Nurse and Practice Manager for the last year and having ensured the reaccreditation of the practice to the standards required of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
“Hospital revenue was significantly down on forecast for the year, due largely to the unavailability of admitting Medical Officers and less than anticipated referrals under the Virtual Ward Agreement with Darling Downs Hospital & Health Service.
“In light thereof, alternate funding models are currently being explored with the view to maintaining rehabilitation and palliative care services as required.
“In the second year of operation, Home Care Services have maintained client numbers with growth forecast in this business unit in the current financial year.
“Thanks go to Ms Helen McGrath for her management of this service over the past 18 months. We wish Helen her well in her impending retirement, as we welcome Ms Cate Baker to the Leadership Team.
A senior executive of CCHS, Wannapa Foytong has left the organisation.
“Having joined the organisation in the role of Executive Director - Operations in July 2022, at a time of considerable change and challenge including a major Covid Outbreak, Ms Wannapa Foytong was required to quickly assume responsibility for the newly created Operations portfolio,” Mr Douglas said.
“This saw her not only address the immediate challenges but also the re-accreditation of both our Hospital and Residential Aged Care business units to their respective Standards, while also playing a key role in leading improvement in the financial performance of the Residential Aged Care business.”
Ms Foytong left after the end of the financial year to pursue continued career development.
“I should also like to extend the board’s sincere thanks to all of our people, be they a volunteer, employee, contractor, committee member or director,” Mr Douglas said.
“As I have said before, and shall do so again, it is only through this great team of committed, capable and caring people that CCHS’s good work is possible.
“In line therewith, and for their contribution throughout the financial year, I acknowledge and thank the members of our leadership team (as listed above and) led by Mr Rodney Watton and, formerly, Ms Wannapa Foytong.”
Mr Douglas thanked Mr Watton for having assumed overall responsibility for the management of the organisation upon the departure of his co-Executive Director and for his continuing efforts in this regard.
