On 5 December 2006, the form of the new Model By-Laws was approved by the Director-General.

Northern Sydney and Central Coast Area Health Service have adopted the Model By-laws and the Management Board has approved those By-Laws.

Northern Sydney and Central Coast Area Health Service By-Laws

Geography

The Health Service extends from Sydney Harbour to the northern reaches of the Central Coast. The region includes:-

• The Central Coast, including much of the Hawkesbury River
• Sydney's Northern Beaches
• Hornsby & Ku-Ring-Gai
• Ryde
• Sydney's North Shore

Gosford has been identified as the administrative hub of the new health service.

The Northern Sydney and Central Coast Health region

Governance

The previous Area Health Services had Area Health Boards to oversee the direction taken by the organisations. However in the Planning Better Health reform package the Minister for Health has specified that the Area Health Services Boards shall be replaced by Health Advisory Councils in the new Area Health Services.

During August and September 2004 a Clinical and Community Advisory Group was led by the Rt Hon Ian Sinclair AC and Ms Wendy McCarthy AO. The Group also included clinicians from metropolitan and rural areas along with representatives of previous Area Health Boards to ensure an effective transition. The members of the Clinical and Community Advisory Group hosted over 56 meetings in more than 29 locations across the State to hear the views of clinicians and community members.

The Clinical and Community Advisory Group was principally interested in: -

• The role and functions of the proposed Area Health Advisory Councils
• Linkages between the Area Health Advisory Council and other clinical and community bodies, within and outside the Area Health Service
• Membership of the Area Health Advisory Council- who should be on it, how should they be appointed and for how long?

Applications for positions on the Health Advisory Council were received up to 10 December 2004. The NSCCH Health Advisory Council will be instrumental in charting the Area Health Service's course through the challenges of health care into the future.

The Future

Obviously NSCCH is a new Area Health Service and the merger of NSH and CCH provides many opportunities for review and collective introspection. Over time the Area will continue to select the best aspects of NSH and CCH and incorporate them into its organizational culture. Similarly new ideas are sure to be developed as we go through this reform process that will further enhance the quality of care that can be delivered to our community.

Health is a rapidly changing environment and NSCCH will need to be ready to meet this challenge. It's critical to know what works well, and what needs to be re-evaluated. Therefore a vital part of our future is consultation and feedback from they very community that we serve. This is the only way that NSCCH can be a dynamic and innovative organisation and respond to the needs of the community that seeks our care.

Please feel free to Have Your Say and register your comments on any aspect of the NSCCH.