Nationwide support for Queensland patient safety and quality reporting proposal

Published Monday, 07 August, 2017 at 10:57 AM

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services
The Honourable Cameron Dick

Federal and State health ministers agreed with a proposal by Queensland Health Minister Cameron Dick at the COAG Health Council to work towards standardising patient safety and quality reporting data in all public and private hospitals.

At the moment, private hospitals are not required to publicly report on safety and quality issues to the same extent as public hospitals.

Mr Dick said aligning safety and quality reporting standards was integral to improving transparency and maintaining the highest quality of healthcare for patients.

“The national and international evidence is clear - the safest hospitals are underpinned by open and transparent reporting on healthcare quality and patient safety, as well as a strong and open safety culture amongst staff,” he said.

“That’s why the Palaszczuk Government re-established the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Service within Queensland Health last year, after it was gutted by the Newman-Nicholls LNP Government with the loss of 40 staff.”

The decision of the COAG Health Council also follows the Palaszczuk Government’s release on Friday of a discussion paper seeking public input to reporting - Expanding Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Reporting Discussion Paper 2017.

The release of the discussion paper, which canvasses bringing private hospitals into line with the patient safety reporting now done by public hospitals in Queensland, is supported by Health Consumers Queensland.

The Palaszczuk Government is seeking feedback, amongst other things, as to whether the reporting requirements for private hospitals should be the same as those that apply to public hospitals, given that the majority of elective surgery in Queensland is carried out in private hospitals.

Feedback can be provided through an online survey or a written submission by email or post. All submissions must be received by 5pm, Friday 27 October 2017.

To view the discussion paper or submit feedback, visit the Queensland Health website or go to https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/strategic-direction/improving-service/expanding-patient-safety-reporting.

ENDS

 

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