National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement
On 20 April 2010, COAG agreed, with the exception of Western
Australia, to sign the National Health and Hospitals Network
Agreement (NHHN). One of the most significant
changes will be the requirement that existing health services will
become smaller Local Hospital Networks (LHNs).
The NHHN suggests that the aim of the LHN's is to
decentralise public hospital management and increase local
decision-making to better meet local needs. The agreement states
that ideally LHN's are to consist of a single or small group of
public hospitals and other health services with a geographical or
functional connection.
Each LHN will be run by a Chief Executive Officer and Governing
Council. Governing Council members will be appointed under State
legislation by State Health Ministers. Each LHN's CEO will be
appointed by the Governing Council, with the approval of the State
Health Minister or their delegate, and will be accountable to
