NGPA Scheme
National General Practice Accreditation (NGPA) Scheme submissions
To support implementation of the NGPA Scheme, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) provides guidance for the following:
- Notification of significant risk
- Extensions and appeals
- Out-of-cycle assessments
- Hybrid assessments
- Early assessments.
General practices or accrediting agencies on behalf of a general practice may submit a request using the links below.
Notification of significant risk
The requirements for notification of significant and ongoing risks of patient harm identified during the assessment of general practices are stipulated in Advisory GP18/04: Notification of significant risk.
Completion of the Notification of significant risks form constitutes notification to the Commission.
Extensions and appeals
The requirements for extensions and appeals are stipulated in Advisory GP23/02: Requests for extensions and appeals.
Applications for extensions and appeals can be submitted to the Commission for determination using the Requests for extensions and appeals form.
Applications must provide a strong rationale in compliance with the eligibility criteria. Applications that do not meet the criteria will not be considered.
Out-of-cycle assessment
The Guidance on out-of-cycle assessment of general practices outlines the changes a general practice may undergo that may significantly increase the risk of patient harm. An out-of-cycle assessment may be warranted to ensure safety and quality systems are maintained.
Accrediting agency may seek advice from the Commission on whether an out-of-cycle assessment is warranted using the Approval form for accrediting agencies.
Hybrid assessment
The Guidance on conducting a hybrid assessment under the NGPA Scheme outlines the processes and best practice requirements for accrediting agencies and general practices participating in hybrid assessments.
Accrediting agency may seek approval from the Commission to conduct a hybrid assessment using the Approval form for accrediting agencies.
Early assessment
Accrediting agencies may seek approval to the Commission to conduct a routine assessment more than 8 months prior to a general practice's accreditation expiry date using the Approval form for accrediting agencies.
Following submission
Following the submission, the Commission will review all the evidence submitted, collect further evidence if required, and may seek advice from other relevant parties such as the General Practice Accreditation Coordinating Committee, prior to determining the outcome of the request.
Requests can take 10 to 20 business days to be processed, dependent on the type of request submitted, evidence provided, and the need to seek further information.