VPRS 19117 Honorary and Senior Medical Staff, Minutes and Papers

This series comprises the minutes, papers and correspondence of the Honorary and Senior Medical Staff of the Royal Melbourne Hospital (VA 1048). The Senior Medical Staff consists of all specialist medical staff with a senior appointment as Head of Unit. Historically, these appointments were honorary until the 1970s, and were often called Medical Officers in Charge of Departments or In-Patient Physicians and In-Patient Surgeons. This group advised the hospital and executive on clinical matters and made recommendations on all medical matters including new services, medical appointments, clinical facilities and operations. More recently the broader role of the Senior Medical Staff, while not possessing executive authority, is to: consider matters affecting the medical or dental policy and medical and dental services of the hospital including such matters that are referred to it by the Board, and tender advice, recommendations or reports to the Board on all matters considered by it. Specifically, the Senior Medical Staff provides expert medical advice on quality, safety, education, research, medical staff issues and clinical services; assists with implementation of various industrial instruments including Awards relevant to Medical Staff; provides input on strategic and operational matters and policy and procedure; provides representation and advocacy for the senior medical staff; and co-ordinates Senior Medical Staff submissions to external bodies. Since December 1989, in addition to full meetings of the Senior Medical Staff, there has been an elected Council of the Senior Medical Staff. For records relating to the Council refer to VPRS 19118.