PDF printable version of Invitation to comment on the draft National Safety and Quality Healthcare Standards (PDF 39 KB)
18 November 2009
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) released last week a consultation document on the first set of draft National Safety and Quality Healthcare Standards (NSQH Standards).
In April 2008, following extensive consultation by the Commission, Australian Health Ministers endorsed the future model for safety and quality accreditation proposed by the Commission. Ministers also noted the Commission was to undertake the first phase of implementation. On 13 November 2009, Ministers noted that the Commission will be undertaking a national consultation on the initial set of draft NSQH Standards and associated aspects of the new model.
Initial work on the model has included developing a preliminary set of NSQH Standards and the detailed planning for national coordination of accreditation, involving a national body for this purpose.
The preliminary set of NSQH Standards addresses the following areas:
- Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations
- Healthcare Associated Infection
- Medication Safety
- Patient Identification and Procedure Matching, and
- Clinical Handover.
The draft Standards are being developed as the nationally agreed safety and quality standards for use by all jurisdictions and health care organisations. Health service organisations that pose a high risk of harm to patients, such as hospitals and day procedure centres must be accredited against the NSQH Standards under the model proposed for national coordination. Health service organisations with a lower risk of patient harm should utilise the NSQH Standards as part of their internal quality assurance mechanisms.
It is intended that the final set of the Standards will be sufficiently comprehensive to assess all key aspects of safety and quality in health care and will provide a guide to health service organisations of the level of care expected to be provided to improve overall patient care in Australia.
The Commission is consulting broadly with stakeholders on the draft NSQH Standards before piloting and final consideration by Health Ministers in 2010.
Written submissions are being accepted by post, fax or email and should be received by close of business on 29 January 2010 to be considered in the consultation process.
For further information, please visit the Accreditation program page (under 'Our work') at www.safetyandquality.gov.au or contact the Commission on (02) 9126 3600.
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