26 November 2004

Appointment of Chief Executive Officer for the Clinical Excellence Commission

The NSW Minister for Health, Morris Iemma today announced the appointment of Professor Clifford Hughes as the Chief Executive Officer of the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC).

Mr Iemma congratulated Professor Hughes on his appointment.

“Professor Hughes has an outstanding track record in the field of medicine and is currently the Head of Department, Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital,” Mr Iemma said.

“His work is recognised nationally and internationally. Professor Hughes was the founding Chair of the NSW Special Committee Investigating Deaths Associated With Surgery – a position he still holds. He was also the founding Chair of the Australian Government’s Therapeutic Device Evaluation Committee.”

Mr Iemma said the CEC Chief Executive’s position is an extremely important role in the State’s health system.

“The CEC is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to tackle the biggest challenges facing the health system – the delivery of safe, accessible services to meet the rising demands for hospital treatment and mental health care.”

The Commission was formally established in July this year to continue the work previously undertaken by the NSW Institute for Clinical Excellence to improve and deliver consistent standards of health care across NSW.

The Commission will:

• Promote best practice systems for clinical quality and patient safety.
• Support Area Health Services in the implementation of their clinical quality systems.
• Monitor the state of clinical quality and patient safety in the NSW health system.
• Provide education and training for clinicians, consumers and hospital managers on the implementation of clinical quality systems.
• Provide advice to the Minister on matters relating to clinical quality and patient safety.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au