National Standards in mental health services
The Commission considers that implementation of the second edition of the NSQHS Standards provides a robust framework for safety and quality in mental health services in public and private hospitals, and community services provided by local health networks.
Second edition of NSQHS Standards
The second edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards was released in November 2017. Health service organisations have been assessed to the second edition from January 2019.
NSQHS Standards mental health – resources
The Commission has released two new resources to support implementation of the NSQHS Standards:
- National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards User Guide for Health Services Providing Care for People with Mental Health Issues includes examples of innovative approaches to providing optimal health care for people with comorbid mental and physical health issues.
- Map of the second edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards with the National Standards for Mental Health Services matches actions within the second edition of the NSQHS Standards with actions in the National Standards for Mental Health Services (NSMHS). This demonstrates to mental health stakeholders the extent of alignment between the two sets of national standards.
The need for a mental health service to demonstrate accreditation is determined by state and territory regulators. The Council of Australian Governments Health Council agreed in 2017 to a process to revise the NSMHS under the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.