Progress Report - November 2024 - As one system: The NSW Health system's response to COVID-19

​Summary

The debrief report As one system: The NSW Health system's response to COVID-19 was published in May 2023 and NSW Health committed to publicly reporting on progress of the 59 recommendations and actions in the report in November 2023. Common themes emerged in the As one system recommendations and actions and these were grouped into a simplified reporting structure to a total of 35 recommendations/actions being reported on.

The key aim for emergency management is for preparedness to be treated as a permanent priority in business as usual and key emergency management and pandemic policy reviews have been completed or underway to reenforce this key aim.

Emergency preparedness is ongoing, so progress is noted as actioned and on-going (embedded in business as usual) or in progress, rather than marked as complete.

• 17 recommendations/actions are fully embedded in business-as-usual
• 18 recommendations/actions are in progress but much of the work is underway with some activities within recommendations / actions embedded in business-as- usual.

The goals outlined in the report are:

• Key emergency management and pandemic policy reviews are underway for update and include:
• All Hazards approach, for the target audience
• Roles and responsibilities outlined according to current system capabilities and delegated responsibilities.
• Less is more approach (condense the number of plans/policies/guidelines) 
• Making sure business as usual processes are embedded and reflected in emergency management policies.
• Continuing engagement with all partners and communities (incl Aboriginal, Culturally And Linguistically Diverse(CALD), regional, aged and disability etc) at a state, regional and local level in business as usual.
• Making data and systems accessible and useful in business as usual and in an emergency response.
• Embedding the innovations that worked well during the Response into business as usual.
• Embedding workforce wellbeing considerations in business as usual and in an emergency response.

The key actions outlined in the report are:

• The following documents have been released:
• NSW Health Plan 
• NSW Aboriginal Health Plan 2024 - 2034
• NSW Immunisation Strategy 2024 - 2028
• Create a set of minimum standards for NSW Health responsible entities in relation to emergency management prevention, preparation, response and recovery.
• Develop a data escalation framework which identifies certain triggers for the sharing of data in business as usual and in an emergency response.
• Continue to evaluate innovations and initiatives established during COVID-19 for long term establishment.
• Continue to implement the NSW Health Workforce Plan 2022-2032.

Progress reporting will continue in 2025, with another progress report to be published in November 2025.