Consultation Paper
Draft Guide for health
service organisation
boards implementing the
National Safety and Quality
Health Service Standards
October 2014
TRIM: D14-16526
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1. Background and Context
The aim of the NSQHS Standards is to protect patients from harm whilst in the health
system. Assessment to the NSQHS Standards commenced in January 2013 with all
hospitals and day procedure services required to become accredited to the NSQHS
Standards.
The Commission has developed a draft Guide for health service organisation boards
implementing the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (the Guide) to assist
health service organisation boards in their implementation of the NSQHS Standards. The
Guide outlines boards’ roles and responsibilities for clinical governance in the context of
Standard 1 of the NSQHS Standards: ‘Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service
Organisations’. The Guide details practical strategies to help the board oversee the clinical
governance of the organisation as well as examples of the types of reports that support this
role.
The aim is to publish and disseminate the Guide, in particular for smaller or rural health
service organisation boards which may not have access to the same educational resources
as larger metropolitan health service organisations.
To ensure the guide meets the needs and information requirements of health service
organisation boards, the Commission is seeking feedback on the Guide from board
members, executives of health service organisations, officers that provide reports to boards
and others with an interest in supporting the effective operation of boards.
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2. The Consultation Process
The draft Guide has been developed by the Commission with input from healthcare
governance content experts. The Commission is now seeking wider input and consultation
on the content and usefulness of the Guide prior to finalising it for publication.
The consultation process aims to:

Ensure the Guide is useful for health service organisation boards and health service
organisations implementing safety and quality systems.

Determine if the Guide promotes a shared understanding of the evidence that can be
used to demonstrate that the Standards have been met.

Ensure the format of the Guide and the language used is appropriate.

Identify other resources and tools that may assist health service organisation boards
to implement and meet the Standards.
The Commission is seeking feedback by written submissions addressing the following
questions:
1. Is the information provided in the Guide useful? If not, what additional information
would you suggest be included? What information could be removed?
2. Is the language and format of the Guide appropriate? If not, please provide
suggested changes.
3. Did you find the level of detail provided appropriate for your health service
organisation board or health service organisation? If not, how could it be improved?
4. Are the examples of types of safety and quality reports in large and small health
services organisations useful for your health service organisation board or health
service organisation? If not, what sort of examples would be more useful?
5. What other resources might assist health service organisation boards with the
implementation of the NSQHS Standards?
6. Do you have any general comments in relation to the Guide?
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3. Submissions
How to submit your feedback
All written submissions should be received by close of business on Friday 19 December
2014 to be considered in the consultation process.
Submissions should include:
 Your name, organisation (if relevant) and contact details
 Your responses to the consultation questions
 Any general comments
 Any additional information (i.e. technical, economic or business information, or
research-based evidence the Commission should be made aware of) that support the
views or comments.
Submissions can be sent by post to:
Consultation on Guide for health service organisation boards
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
GPO Box 5480
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Or via email to: NSQHSStandards@safetyandquality.gov.au
If you have any questions relating to the consultation or submissions process, please email
NSQHSStandards@safetyandquality.gov.au or call the Commission on
(02) 9126 3600.
Please note, written submissions may be published on the Commission’s website, including
the names and/or organisations making the submission. The Commission will consider
requests to withhold part or all of the contents of any submission made. Any submission that
includes personal information identifying specific individuals may be withheld from
publication or de-identified before submissions are published.
4. Next Steps
Outcome of the consultation
The results of this consultation process will be used to further refine and develop the Guide.
Once the Guide has been finalised it will be published on the Commission’s website. A
limited print run will be distributed to health service organisation boards across Australia.
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