General Services

Reporting through the Director, Nursing, Anaesthesia, Allied Health and General Services, General Services are responsible for the operational service delivery of a range of contracted support services and other in house services.

CONTRACTED SERVICES

CLEANING AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

The RAH has contracted this service since July 1996 and has developed a pragmatic contractual management and Quality Assurance process, which has produced better than average results.

The RAH is party to a "grid" of assessed hospitals in NSW, VIC and SA which utilises competition to ensure high quality standards.

SECURITY

The RAH has a contracted Security Service which has been on site since August 1996.

The Security Service uses extensive surveillance, alarm and electronic monitoring networks as an aid to service delivery.

As well as patrolling, usual security, lost property and gatekeeping duties, the Security Service provides the Hospital's violence response team and is responsible for the operation of the Hospital's Helipad.

ORDERLY SERVICE

The RAH has contracted this service since April 1997, the service utilises a state of the art dispatch service which maximises resources and provides accurate real time recording of internal patient movement. The Hospital has also developed a quality assurance programme, which provides a pragmatic measurement for customers.

IN HOUSE OPERATIONS

RESIDENTIAL WING

The RAH operates the former nurses' quarters, known as the "Residential Wing" as budget priced accommodation. The standard varies from:

• High quality flats: one will accommodate up to 4

one will accommodate up to 2

• 10 Ensuites which will accommodate up to 4
• 350 single rooms, with shared facilities.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

The RAH operates a single service waste management system which incorporates

• General Waste
• Medical Waste
• Recycling - Cardboard/Paper
  • Glass
  • Plastic
  • Confidential Waste

Waste is segregated at point of generation and the Waste Management Company provides the education component. The result has been substantial efficiencies (medical waste halved) and the elimination of c$70,000 "shadow costs".

PARKING

General Services are responsible for the operational management of Hospital Parking which involves some 1700 spaces for 4,000 staff at four inner city locations. It also provides for secure no cost bicycle parking.

VENDING MACHINES

General Services manages an extensive range of vending machines.

TENDER ASSESSMENT AND CONTRACT START

General Services, Royal Adelaide Hospital, have provided assistance to a large number of Hospitals as an independent tender assessor for cleaning, portering, grounds, orderlies, distribution and security. Assistance has also been advised to hospitals in facilitating "Partnering" workshops at contract commencement.

The Royal Adelaide Hospital has maintained "single stream" support services and advice has been provided to hospitals to move away from the PSA model.