Health Ombudsman Bill 2013 (Qld)

The Health Ombudsman Bill 2013 - aimed at establishing a health ombudsman and providing a system for dealing with complaints relating to health practitioners and the services provided by health service organisations - has passed the Legislative Assembly in Queensland.

According to the explanatory notes, the primary policy objective of the Bill 2013 is to strengthen the health complaints management system in Queensland.

The notes go on to explain that recent inquiries and media reports in relation to certain medical practitioners have highlighted fundamental deficiencies in the way the public is protected by the existing health complaints management system. The existing system, it is said, has resulted in "unjustified delays in dealing with serious allegations against medical practitioners, and inadequate responses to these allegations." There are "confused roles between the existing health complaints management entities, and inadequate transparency and accountability in the health complaints management system."

The Bill addresses these issues in a number of ways, with the main objects set out in section 3:

• to protect the health and safety of the public; and
• to promote professional, safe and competent practice by health practitioners; and high standards of service delivery by health service organisations; and
• to maintain public confidence in the management of complaints and other matters relating to the provision of health services.

If the Act is passed, these objects will be achieved by establishing a "transparent, accountable and fair system for effectively and expeditiously dealing with complaints and other matters relating to the provision of health services," including by—

• establishing the health ombudsman with the functions set out in section 25; 
• providing for the effective and efficient interaction of the Act and the National Law; and
• providing for the system to be monitored by the Minister and the parliamentary committee.

TimeBase is an independent, privately owned Australian legal publisher specialising in the online delivery of accurate, comprehensive and innovative legislation research tools including LawOne and unique Point-in-Time Products.

Health Ombudsman Bill 2013 (Qld) via LawOne by TimeBase