Queensland will continue to face multiple health service delivery challenges due to changing and increasing health service needs. To ensure a sustainable health service, the Department of Health (Health) requires an effective, long-term planning framework which is integrated into the department’s operating environment. Under Section 7 of the Health Services Act 1991 the chief executive is responsible for ‘ensuring the development of a State-wide health services plan’.

The audit objective was to determine whether there are adequate planning systems in place to ensure Queensland public health services are sustainable and will support future demand.