Sub-Committees of the Board of Management Minutes, Agendas and Papers

This series comprises the minutes of various sub-committees that report to the Board of Management of the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) (VA 1048).

This series includes: minutes of the Hospital Inspection and Patient Welfare Advisory Committee; minutes and papers of the Office Bearers Committee; minutes of the Community Relations Advisory Committee; minutes of the People and Environment/Workforce Governance Committee; agenda and minutes of the Safety and Service Improvement Committee; minutes of the Community Advisory Committee; Minutes of the Better Health/Primary Care and Population Health Advisory Committee; minutes of the Clinical Governance and Improvement Committee; minutes and papers of the RMH Foundation Committee; and additional minute books of miscellaneous hospital sub-committees.

Hospital Inspection and Patient Welfare Advisory Committee

The Hospital Inspection and Patient Welfare Advisory Committee was responsible for carrying out regular inspections of the hospital, and examining the condition and utilisation of hospital equipment, facilities, and the general environment. The Committee was responsible for taking a special interest in the welfare of patients and patients’ views, and reporting and making recommendations to the Board on the capacity to meet appropriate levels of patient care and comfort.

Office Bearers Committee

The Office Bearers Committee comprised the President, Senior Vice-President, Junior Vice-President and the Treasurer as well as invited senior Executives of the hospital. The role of the Committee was to review issues for discussion before they were taken to the full Board.

Community Relations Advisory Committee

The Community Relations Advisory Committee’s role was to advise the Board on matters relating to the maintenance of relationships between the hospital and the community, especially in matters requiring the determination of policy. This included obtaining assistance from the community to provide financial support for projects, and maximising the hospital’s image in the community through fundraising and public relations.

Workforce Governance Committee

The Workforce Governance Committee’s role was to address compliance issues and risk management (including union matters, whistleblower legislation and workforce complaints). Additionally, the Committee was responsible for maintaining alignments with the organisation's people management practices, including the development of leaders, recruitment and retention of staff, and organisational culture. Between 2002 and October 2004 this committee was known as the People and Environment Committee.

Safety and Service Improvement Committee

The Safety and Service Improvement Committee met for the first time in June 2002, and was the successor of the Quality Committee. Its role was to ensure that effective and accountable systems were in place to monitor and improve the quality and effectiveness of the health services provide by the hospital. The Committee was responsible for ensuring that a comprehensive quality plan or strategy was implemented and regularly reviewed, receiving reports and aggregate data about quality, and investigating and making recommendations to the Board about quality issues and best practice. In March 2010, the name of the committee changed to Clinical Governance and Improvement Committee.

Community Advisory Committee

The Community Advisory Committee was established in 2001 to increase patient, carer and community participation across the organisation. Its role is to strengthen the organisational capacity to seek, support and respond to consumer, carer and community participation. The aim of this Committee is to improve health outcomes, increase consumer satisfaction, and improve service delivery and responsiveness to consumers.

Primary Care and Population Health Advisory Committee

The Primary Care and Population Health Advisory Committee’s role was to take a strategic overview to promoting and fostering collaborative service models between the health service and community services. This aimed to provide for better service integration and development. The Committee used a population health approach to identify key issues affecting the hospital's catchment and provided advice on priorities and the best approach to these issues. This Committee was initially known as the Better Health Advisory Committee from 2002 to 2006.

Royal Melbourne Hospital Foundation Limited

The Royal Melbourne Hospital Foundation Limited was incorporated as a Trust on 31 January 2003 to raise money for the benefit of the organisation and specific projects. This included establishing a Major Gifts Program, developing and facilitating Major Signature Events, and developing and directing Arts in Health cultural projects.

Miscellaneous Minutes

The additional miscellaneous minute books included in this series contain information on a range of subjects including but not limited to: finance, fittings, elections, wages, nurses training, patient payments, supplies, drugs, the establishment up of special clinics, staff appointments, bequests, investment of funds,  proposed legislation, research funds and grants, student selection, office-bearers, auxiliary service, consultants, unions, public relations, war emergency appointments, donors, conferences, staff shortages, and meetings with other hospitals.