The second edition of the NSQHS Standards comprises eight standards. The Clinical Governance Standard and Partnering with Consumers Standard combine to form the clinical governance framework for all health service organisations. Together, they set the overarching system requirements for the remaining six clinical standards (Preventing and Controlling Healthcare Associated Infection, Medication Safety, Comprehensive Care, Communicating for Safety, Blood and Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration), which cover specific high-risk areas of patient care.
To reinforce this idea the third action in each of the six clinical standards links back to the Partnering with Consumers Standard. Health service organisations need to use the systems and processes they have established for the Partnering with Consumers Standard when meeting the requirements of the six clinical standards.