Advisories
Advisories are formal guidance documents that explain how to interpret or assess our National Safety and Quality Standards and other standards developed under the accreditation schemes we operate. They help health services, accrediting agencies and assessors understand critical information about standards and accreditation. Advisories are routinely reviewed, and revisions are summarised in the notes section of the relevant advisory.
NSQHS Standards
Rescinded advisories
- AS18/03: Assessments from October 2018 to the second edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
- AS18/07: Reprocessing of reusable medical devices in health service organisations
- AS18/14: Comprehensive Care Standard: Screening and assessment for risk of harm
- AS19/01: Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration Standard: Recognising deterioration in a person's mental state
- AS20/01: Advice on hand hygiene audit requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic
- AS20/02: Data collection by health service organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic
- AS22/01: Advice on implementing the updated Delirium Clinical Care Standard (released September 2021)
- AS21/02: Advice on implementing the 2020 Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard
- AS21/05: Advice on the submission of hand hygiene compliance audit data for Audit 3, 2021, Audit 1, 2022, and Audit 2, 2022
Primary and Community Healthcare Standards
Digital Mental Health Standards
Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations
| Advisory | Last updated |
|---|---|
| Advisory CMO 24/01: Not applicable actions in the NSQMHCMO Standards | 26 September 2024 |
| Advisory CMO 25/02: Notification of significant risk | 10 July 2025 |
| Advisory CMO 25/03: Sampling for accreditation assessment | 10 July 2025 |
Cosmetic Surgery Standards
| Advisory | Last updated |
|---|---|
| Advisory CS25/01: Notification of significant risk | 19 February 2025 |
| Advisory CS25/02: Advice on not applicable actions for the Cosmetic Surgery Standards | 4 June 2025 |
National Clinical Trials Governance Framework
| Advisory | Last updated |
|---|---|
| Advisory CT25/01: Extension of the Maturity Rating Scale for Clinical Trial Service Assessments against NCTGF | September 2025 |
Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Scheme
National General Practice Accreditation Scheme
| Advisory | Last updated |
|---|---|
| Advisory GP18/02: Transferring accreditation between accrediting agencies | 24 October 2023, reviewed October 2025 |
| Advisory GP18/04: Notification of significant risk | 4 September 2024 |
| Advisory GP21/01: Point-of-care testing for general practices | 24 October 2023, reviewed October 2025 |
| Advisory GP23/02: Requests for extensions and appeals | 10 October 2024 |
| Advisory GP23/03: Standardised repeat assessment of general practices | 4 September 2024 |
| Advisory GP25/01: Registration under the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme | October 2025 |
| Advisory GP26/01: Advice on not applicable indicators under the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme | May 2026 |
| Advisory GP26/02: Relocation assessment of accredited general practices | May 2026 |
National Pathology Accreditation Scheme
| Advisory | Last updated |
|---|---|
| Advisory PA22/02: Structured reporting of COVID-19 text message results | 22 March 2022 |