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Assessment outcomes data for hospitals

The figures below provide information on the number and percentage of Australian hospitals and day procedure services that have completed assessments to the second edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS Standards). 

The reporting period commenced in January 2019. 

The following data includes finalised assessments for all Australian hospitals and day procedure services up to September 2026.

Overview

Almost all of the 1,328 hospitals and day procedure services have been assessed against the second edition of the NSQHS Standards. 27% of assessments resulted in requirements met at initial assessment.


Number of assessments by sector and facility type for each state and territory

Sector and facility typeNSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACTOther1Total
Public hospitals

463 

 359 

 317 

 189 

 210 

 52 

 13 

 14 

 4 

 1,621 

Private hospitals

240 

 164 

 149 

 37 

 53 

 16 

 6 

 13 

 - 

 678 

Day procedure services

273 

 254 

 150 

 98 

 43 

 28 

 3 

 40 

 - 

 889 

Total

976 

 777  

 616  

 324  

 306  

 96 

 22 

 67 

 4 

 3,188  


1Other: Indian Ocean Territories Health Service

A mandatory re-assessment is required when the outcome of the initial assessment shows a large number of actions in the NSQHS Standards require improvements. Health services must implement improvements to comply with the NSQHS Standards to be awarded accreditation. There is a further assessment to ensure the changes are embedded in the organisation’s daily practice.

Significant risks are notified to the Commission when an assessor identifies a situation that could result in significant harm to patients. These risks must be reported and addressed within 48 hours.
 

Accreditation outcomes show 0 services not awarded accreditation, 102 mandatory repeat assessments, and 28 assessments where significant risks were identified.

 

Assessment data by standard

The graph below shows the outcome of the initial assessment by standard. For each standard, the percentage is calculated as the proportion of assessments per rating over total number of assessments.
 

The Clinical Governance Standard has the lowest proportion of assessments that fully complied with the standard, at 41%.


*Preventing and Controlling Infections   **Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration
 

What is the rating scale used by assessors?

The NSQHS Standards are made up of 151 actions across the eight Standards. Each action is awarded a rating after assessment. The rating scale is as follows:

MetThe action was fully met. These actions are represented in dark blue on the bar graphs.
Improvements were recommendedThe requirements of the action were largely met, with minor improvement recommended. These actions are represented in medium blue on the bar graphs.
Improvements requiredPart or all of the requirements of the action were not met. Improvements had to be completed before accreditation was awarded. These actions are represented in light blue on the bar graphs.

 

Actions most frequently rated as improvements were required or recommended

Safety and quality training was the action most frequently rated as not met or met with recommendations.

Safety in Health Care web tool

You can use our Safety in Health Care web tool to look up a specific hospital and see how well they are meeting the NSQHS Standards and other indicators of safety and quality.

Last updated: 14 October 2026