Trevor Pope appointed A/Director of new Office of Health Review (A/Min)

18/7/96

An acting director had been appointed to get the Office of Health Review operating as soon as possible, acting Health Minister Paul Omodei announced today.

Mr Omodei said Mr Trevor Pope would take on the key role of establishing the office, which would answer questions from health consumers on their health care.

Mr Pope, currently a project leader with the Commission on Government, has 14 years of extensive experience in conciliation and dispute resolution through his position as deputy registrar and deputy CEO of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

In an earlier position with the then Department of Consumer Affairs, Mr Pope was involved in mediation and resolution of consumer complaints, and assisted in policy development for the Small Claims Tribunal.

"Our first priority must be to help people to get satisfactory answers to any questions they may have about their health care treatment," Mr Omodei said.

"The Office of Health Review will be the first forum to review services provided by private hospitals and doctors, as well as public hospitals and publicly-funded health services.

"Health care is something that affects every one of us and it is vital to have a process where you can ask questions about the health treatment you receive, no matter who you are or who provides the service.

"It is also important to strike a balance, so that providers as well as consumers have faith in the impartiality of the review process.

"Trevor Pope will start work on July 22 to establish the Office of Health Review as an energetic agency which achieves just that balance. The public will be informed as soon as the office is open for business."

Mr Omodei said Mr Pope's first tasks would be to staff the office in Albert Facey House, to begin work on the pile of health queries awaiting responses, and to establish contacts with health consumers and provider groups.

Media contact: Jenny Bassett 366 0300