About Hospital and Health Boards

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The Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 (the Act) and the associated Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2023 establish Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) as independent statutory bodies. They set out the functions and powers of HHSs and their relationship with the Department. The main function of a HHS is to deliver hospital and other health services, teaching, research and other services stated in each HHS’s service agreement with the Department.

A full list of functions of a HHS is outlined in section 19 of the Act.

Boards are directly accountable to the Minister and are responsible for ensuring their HHS performs its functions under section 19 of the Act. This includes the obligation to develop statements of priorities and strategic plans for the corporate governance of the HHS, and to monitor compliance with those statements and plans.

Each board is also responsible for the appointment of the Chief Executive to their respective HHS (s33). The appointment is not effective until approved by the Minister. In managing the HHS, the Health Service Chief Executive is subject to the direction of the board.

In governing the HHS for which it is established, a board must have regard to the:

  • need to ensure resources of the public sector health system are used effectively and efficiently
  • best interests of patients and other users of public sector health services throughout the state
  • need to promote a culture and implement measures to support the health, safety and wellbeing of staff of public sector health service facilities.

Board appointments

Appointments to the boards are made by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister. Under section 23 of the Act, boards must have five or more members, with at least one member who is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and one person who is a clinician.

The Act does not specify a maximum number of members for a board. Membership number requirements may vary depending on the collective experience and expertise of existing members and the needs of the HHS. Membership across HHBs currently range between 7 to 11 members. Board members are appointed under the Act for a term of not more than four years and can be reappointed.

Key contacts and a list of the boards for each HHS are available.

Committees of boards

Boards  are required under the Act to establish committees prescribed under the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2023 (HHB Regulation). The prescribed committees include:

Board safety and quality committees

Section 45 of the HHB Regulation provides that the functions of the safety and quality committee are to:

  • advise the board on matters relating to the safety and quality of health services provided by the HHS, including the HHS’s strategies for
    • minimising preventable patient harm
    • reducing unjustified variation in clinical care
    • improving the experience of patients and carers of the HHS in receiving health services
    • complying with national and state strategies, policies, agreements and standards relevant to promoting consultation with health consumers and members of the community about the provision of health services by the HHS
  • monitor the HHS’s governance arrangements relating to the safety and quality of health services, including by monitoring compliance with the HHS’s policies and plans about safety and quality
  • promote improvements in the safety and quality of health services provided by the HHS
  • monitor the safety and quality of health services being provided by the HHS using appropriate indicators developed by the HHS
  • monitor the workplace culture of the HHS in relation to the safety and quality of health services provided by the HHS
  • collaborate with other safety and quality committees, the department and statewide quality assurance committees in relation to the safety and quality of health services
  • any other function given to the committee by the HHB, if the function is not inconsistent with the functions mentioned above.

Board finance committees

Section 46 of the HHB Regulation provides that the functions of a finance committee are:

  • advising the board about the matters set out above
  • assessing the HHS’s budgets and ensuring the budgets are
    • consistent with the organisational objectives of the HHS
    • appropriate having regard to the HHS’s funding
  • monitoring the HHS’s cash flow, having regard to the revenue and expenditure of the HHS
  • monitoring the financial and operating performance of the HHS
  • monitoring the adequacy of the HHS’s financial systems, having regard to its operational requirements and obligations under the Financial Accountability Act 2009
  • assessing financial risks or concerns that impact, or may impact, on the financial performance and reporting obligations of the HHS, and how the HHS is managing the risks or concerns, e.g.
    • the accuracy of the valuation of fixed assets
    • the adequacy of financial reserves
  • assessing the HHS’s complex or unusual financial transactions
  • any other function given to the committee by the HHS’s board, if the function is not inconsistent with a function mentioned above.

Board audit committees

Section 47 of the HHB Regulation provides that the functions of the an audit committee are:

  • advising the board about the matters set out above
  • assessing the adequacy of the HHS’s financial statements, having regard to
    • the appropriateness of the accounting practices used
    • compliance with prescribed accounting standards under the Financial Accountability Act 2009
    • external audits of the Service’s financial statements
    • information provided by the Service about the accuracy and completeness of the financial statements
  • monitoring the HHS’s compliance with its obligation to establish and maintain an internal control structure and systems of risk management under the Financial Accountability Act 2009, including
    • whether the HHS has appropriate policies and procedures in place
    • whether the HHS is complying with the policies and procedures
  • if an internal audit function is established for the HHS under the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019, part 2, division 5, monitoring and advising the HHS’s board about its internal audit function
  • overseeing the Service’s liaison with the Queensland Audit Office in relation to the HHS’s proposed audit strategies and plans
  • assessing external audit reports for the Service and the adequacy of actions taken by the HHS as a result of the reports;
  • monitoring the adequacy of the Service’s management of legal and compliance risks and internal compliance systems, including the effectiveness of the systems in monitoring compliance by the HHS with relevant laws and government policies
  • assessing the Service’s complex or unusual transactions or series of transactions, or any material deviation from the HHS’s budget
  • any other function given to the committee by the HHS’s board, if the function is not inconsistent with a function mentioned above.

Executive committees

Under section 32A of the Act boards must establish, as a committee of the board, an executive committee for the HHS controlled by the board. Section 32B of the Act sets out the functions of an executive committee:

  • To support the board in its role of controlling the HHS for which it is established by
    • working with the health service chief executive to progress strategic issues identified by the board
    • strengthening the relationship between the board and the health service chief executive to ensure accountability in the delivery of services by the Service.
  • An executive committee may, at the direction of the board
    • oversee the performance of the HHS against the performance measures stated in the service agreement
    • support the board in the development of engagement strategies and protocols with primary healthcare organisations, monitor their implementation, and address issues that arise in their implementation
    • support the board in the development of service plans and other plans for the HHS and monitor their implementation
    • work with the health service chief executive in responding to critical emergent issues in the HHS
    • perform other functions given to the executive committee by the board.
  • A regulation may prescribe other matters relating to an executive committee’s functions.

Last updated: 5 December 2024