The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has progressed the implementation of the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation Scheme. This accreditation scheme includes 10 new National Safety and Quality in Health Service Standards. Updates are available on the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website.

Implementation time frame

It is proposed that the National Safety and Quality in Health Service Standards will be introduced over an 18 month transition phase commencing on 1 July 2011 with full implementation from 1 January 2013. This timeline is dependent upon Australian Health Ministers approving the National Safety and Quality in Health Service Standards prior to 1 July 2011.

Implementation of the National Safety and Quality in Health Service Standards in Victoria: update June 2011

All public hospitals and health services are required to be accredited by a body or entity which has been accredited by:

• the International Society for Quality in Health Care Inc or
• the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand.

The Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation Scheme has been developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. The accreditation scheme includes ten new National Safety and Quality in Health Service Standards.

In Victoria these ten National Safety and Quality in Health Service Standards will apply to:

• all public hospitals, including small rural health services
• public dental services in community health services

For public hospitals an additional accreditation standard on nutrition will apply. This standard is under development and will be introduced prior to January 2013.

The National Safety and Quality in Health Service Standards will apply to public mental health services delivered by Victorian public hospitals. It is also an expectation that public mental health services will continue to be required to be accredited against the 2010 National Standards for Mental Health Services.

Victorian public hospitals and public health services in scope will be reporting under this accreditation scheme with an 18 month transition phase commencing 1 July 2011. During the transition phase health services will be working towards the implementation of process and systems to ensure they meet the National Safety and Quality in Health Service Standards. Health services will be given the opportunity to be accredited against the National Safety and Quality in Health Service Standards or may choose to continue with their existing standards until their accreditation cycle is again due.