The Women's is a public health service and is incorporated pursuant to the provisions of the Health Services Act 1988 (as amended).
The functions of the board of a public health service are prescribed by the Health Services (Governance and Accountability) Act 2004. Some of those functions are:
- to develop statements of priorities and strategic plans for the operation of the public health service and to monitor compliance with those statements and plans;
- to develop financial and business plans, strategies and budgets to ensure accountable and efficient provision of health services by the public health service and the long-term financial viability of the public health service;
- to establish and maintain effective systems to ensure that the health services provided meet the needs of the communities served by the public health service and that the views of users and providers of health services are taken into account;
- to monitor the performance of the public health service; and
- to facilitate health research and education.
In performing its functions and exercising its powers, the board of a public health service must have regard to:
- the needs and views of patients and other users of the health services that the public health service provides and the community that the public health service serves;
- the need to ensure that the public health service uses its resources in an effective and efficient manner; and
- the need to ensure that resources of the Victorian public health sector generally are used effectively and efficiently.
Public hospitals are required to prepare annual reports under the Financial Management Act 1994. The annual report consists of Reports of Operations, Financial Statements and Explanatory Notes.
The Women’s annual reports and quality accounts can be found on the Corporate publications page.
Procurement
The Women’s is committed to procuring goods and services in an open, fair and transparent manner based on the Policies and Procedures developed by HealthShare Victoria.
Purchasing decisions are made not only on price, but take into consideration adaptability, innovation, accountability, sustainability, and creating relationships that can drive real and lasting value.
More information can be found on our Procurement at the Women’s page.
Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality
The Women's publishes a Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Register each year, and also has a Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Procedure and Framework.
You can view these documents in the Downloads and Related Topics section below.
All public sector employees have a duty to always put the public interest above their private interests when carrying out their official duties.
The policy outlines when potential, perceived or actual conflicts may occur and the steps that must be taken to avoid, disclose, mitigate and/or manage a conflict of interest.
Our Procedure, Framework and Registers are in accordance with the Victorian Public Sector Commission guidelines.
Safe patient care
The Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Amendment Act 2018 came in to effect on 1 March 2019 and changes to the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Regulations 2015 commenced on 6 March 2019.
Under the amended Act, the Women’s is required to publish the number of birth suite beds at its Parkville site. The information below (as at 1 March 2023) is published in compliance with the Act.
Birth suite beds: 17
Assessment beds: 3