Health Performance Council

The Health Performance Council (HPC) was formed on 1 July 2008 (Health Care Act 2008) as an independent body to review the performance of South Australia’s health systems and provide advice to the Minister for Health and Ageing.

The new fifth term of the HPC is now operational, with the appointment of a new Chair effective February 2021 and the appointment of seven Council Members effective June 2021.

Roles

The operation of the new HPC will provide expert, independent and relevant advice about the performance of the SA health system – broadly defined -- to improve health services and the health and wellbeing of all South Australians.

The HPC takes into account the strategic objectives that have been set or adopted within the Government’s health portfolios, including the SA Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

In providing advice with respect to the provision of any health services (including proposed services), the HPC seeks to communicate three core aspects of value being:

  • the net benefit provided by the services, the cost effectiveness of services, and available resources;
  • the net impact that the adoption of the advice would have on other services, or on the community more generally; and
  • the value placed on any relevant services by members of the public who use those services.

The HPC is also required under the Act to conduct a four-yearly performance review of the South Australian health system.

For more information, refer to the Health Care Act 2008 and the HPC Terms of Reference.

Framework for the HPC

In terms of aligning the framework for the HPC with the goals of the SA Health and Wellbeing Strategy, four common areas of health system performance can be identified pertaining to access, quality, efficiency and engagement.  These span the themes and goals of the HWBS and provide a framework for the HPC’s intended work.

Access

A critical issue for patients is access to care, including access to elective procedures and timely access in an emergency. Access measures need to be analysed by geography and characteristics of the patient (e.g. patients from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds (CALD), Indigenous patients, people with a disability).

Quality

The HPC seeks to review quality indicators and patient reported outcomes across the health system.  Reviews can focus on both the impact on patient outcomes, as well as likely cost implications of unplanned care and other quality measures.  The HPC could examine both in-hospital care and out-of-hospital indicators.  As with access issues, quality measures should be analysed by geography and characteristics of the patient.

Efficiency

The HPC can seek to assess the efficiency of health services in South Australia, across the three types of efficiency (technical, allocative and dynamic).  This would include comparisons of health care in this state versus other states.

Engagement

The Act requires the HPC to advise the Minister on the effectiveness of methods used within the health system to engage communities and individual in improving their health outcomes.  Consideration could be given to the effectiveness of existing forms of consumer engagement in the South Australian health system.

Membership

The fifth term membership of the HPC has now been appointed. For details on each of the members, see the HPC membership page.

Annual reports

Current reports

Contact

Secretariat functions and analytical support are provided to the HPC by the Health Economics and Analytics Team within the Department for Health and Wellbeing.

Email: HealthHealthPerformanceCouncil@sa.gov.au