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Health Administration Act 1982 No PDF
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1 New South Wales Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Status information Currency of version Historical version for 1 July 2011 to 13 May 2013 (generated 21 May 2013 at 13:52). Legislation on the NSW legislation website is usually updated within 3 working days. Provisions in force All the provisions displayed in this version of the legislation have commenced. For commencement and other details see the Historical notes. See also: Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 This version of the legislation is compiled and maintained in a database of legislation by the Parliamentary Counsel s Office and published on the NSW legislation website.
3 New South Wales Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Contents Part 1 Part 2 Preliminary Page 1 Name of Act 2 2 Commencement 2 3 (Repealed) 2 4 Definitions 2 Administration Division 1 The Minister 5 Functions of the Minister 4 5A Exercise of Minister s functions through Corporation, joint ventures or other associations 4 Division 2 6, 7 (Repealed) 5
4 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Contents Page Division 3 The Director-General 8 Functions of the Director-General 5 8A Exercise of Director-General s functions through Corporation, joint ventures or other associations 6 Division 4 The Corporation 9 Corporation 6 10 Acquisition of land by Corporation 7 11 Disposal of land by Corporation 8 12 Power to accept gifts etc 8 13 Contracts of Corporation 8 13A Corporation to manage accounts of health professional councils 8 14, 15 (Repealed) 9 Division 5 The Foundation 16 Foundation 9 17 Functions of the Foundation Power to accept gifts etc New South Wales Health Foundation Fund 11 Division 6 Councils, committees and advisory bodies 20 Appointment of advisory bodies 11 Division 6A Medical Services Committee 20A Definitions 12 20B Establishment of Medical Services Committee 12 20C Functions of Medical Services Committee etc 13 Division 6B Quality assurance committees 20D Definitions 14 20E Approved quality assurance committees 14 20F Restrictions on Committees 15 20G Disclosure etc of information 15 20H Information not to be given in evidence 15 20I Findings of Committee not evidence of certain matters 16 20J Personal liability of members etc 16 20K Regulations relating to Committees 16 Division 6C Root cause analysis teams 20L Definitions 17 20M Appointment of RCA teams to deal with incidents 17 20N Restrictions on RCA teams 18 20O Responsibilities of RCA team in relation to incident 18 Contents page 2
5 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Contents Page 20P Disclosure of information 19 20Q Information not to be given in evidence 19 20R Notifications and reports not to be admitted in evidence 20 20S Personal liability of members etc 20 20T Regulations concerning RCA teams 20 20U (Repealed) 21 Division 7 Delegation 21 Delegation 21 Part 3 Miscellaneous 22 Disclosure of information Specially privileged information Proceedings for offences Protection from liability Service of documents Authentication of certain documents Annual report Statute law revision (sec 6) Repeal of Health Commission Act 1972, and amendments Abolition of Commission Savings, transitional and other provisions Transfer of health employees Regulations 26 Part 4 35 (Repealed) 26 Schedule 1 Repeals 27 Schedule 2 Savings, transitional and other provisions 28 Schedule 2A Health professional councils 35 Schedule 3 Transfer of health employees 36 Schedule 4 Medical Services Committee 44 Notes Table of amending instruments 48 Table of amendments 52 Contents page 3
7 New South Wales Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 An Act to establish a Department of Health and certain other bodies; to vest certain functions in the Minister for Health and certain other bodies and persons; to provide for the transfer of certain employees; to repeal the Health Commission Act 1972; and for other purposes.
8 Section 1 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Part 1 Preliminary 1 Name of Act This Act may be cited as the Health Administration Act Commencement (1) Sections 1, 2, 33 and 34 and Schedule 3 shall commence on the date of assent to this Act. (2) Except as provided by subsection (1), this Act shall commence on such day as may be appointed by the Governor in respect thereof and as may be notified by proclamation published in the Gazette. 3 (Repealed) 4 Definitions (1) In this Act, except in so far as the context or subject-matter otherwise indicates or requires: Corporation means the Health Administration Corporation constituted by section 9. Department means the Department of Health. Director-General means the Director-General of the Department. Foundation means the New South Wales Health Foundation constituted by section 16. health service means any medical, hospital, ambulance, paramedical, community health or environmental health service or any other service (including any service of a prescribed class or description) relating to the maintenance or improvement of the health, or the restoration to health, of persons or the prevention of disease in or injury to persons. local health district means a local health district constituted under the Health Services Act regulations means regulations under this Act. (1A) The expression NSW Health may be used to describe the Corporation, the Department and any other body and organisation under the control and direction of the Minister or the Director-General. (2) A reference in this Act to an ambulance service is a reference to a service relating to the work of rendering first aid to, and the transport of, sick and injured persons. (3) A reference in this Act to: (a) a function includes a reference to a power, authority and duty, and Page 2
9 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section 4 (b) the exercise of a function includes, where the function is a duty, a reference to the performance of the duty. Page 3
10 Section 5 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Part 2 Division 1 Administration The Minister 5 Functions of the Minister (1) The Minister may formulate general policies, in accordance with which the functions of the Minister, Department, Director-General, Corporation and Foundation are to be exercised, for the purpose of promoting, protecting, developing, maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the people of New South Wales to the maximum extent possible having regard to the needs of and financial and other resources available to the State. (2) The Minister may: (a) provide, conduct, operate and maintain and, where necessary, improve and extend any health service or any ancillary or incidental service and arrange for the construction of any buildings or works necessary for or in connection with any such service, (b) enter into any agreement or arrangement for any other person to provide, conduct, operate and maintain any health service, and (c) do such supplemental, incidental or consequential acts as may be necessary or expedient for the exercise of the functions under the foregoing provisions of this subsection. (3) Nothing in this section takes away or affects any function that the Minister has apart from this section. 5A Exercise of Minister s functions through Corporation, joint ventures or other associations (1) A function of the Minister may, if the Minister so determines, be exercised: (a) by the Corporation, or (b) by the Minister (or by the Corporation) in a partnership, joint venture or other association with other persons or bodies. (2) A function of the Minister that is exercisable in relation to anything belonging to, or controlled by, the Minister is also exercisable in relation to anything belonging to, or controlled by, the Corporation. (3) Nothing in this section prevents the Minister from exercising a function in his or her capacity as the Minister and entering into contracts or doing other things on behalf of the Crown. Page 4
11 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section 8 Division 2 6, 7 (Repealed) Division 3 The Director-General 8 Functions of the Director-General (1) The Director-General shall have and may exercise such functions as are conferred or imposed on the Director-General by or under this or any other Act. (2) The Director-General shall have and may exercise the following functions: (a) to initiate, promote, commission and undertake surveys and investigations into: (i) the health needs of the people of New South Wales, (ii) the resources of the State available to meet those needs, and (iii) the methods by which those needs should be met, (b) to inquire into the nature, extent and standards of the health services, facilities and personnel required to meet the health needs of the people of New South Wales and to determine the cost of meeting those needs, (c) to plan the provision of comprehensive, balanced and co-ordinated health services throughout New South Wales, (d) to formulate the programs and methods by which the health needs of the people of New South Wales may be met, (e) to undertake, promote and encourage research in relation to any health service, (f) to facilitate the provision of health services by any council (within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1993) or by any other body or person, (g) to facilitate the provision by any Government Department, statutory authority, other body or person of social welfare services necessary or desirable to complement any health service, (h) to promote and facilitate the provision of the professional, technical or other education or training of any persons employed or to be employed in the provision of any health service, (i) to promote and facilitate a system of health care for the people of New South Wales provided by private bodies, institutions, associations and persons, as well as by the State and public bodies, Page 5
12 Section 8A Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 (j) to do such supplemental, incidental or consequential acts as may be necessary or expedient for the exercise of the Director-General s functions under the foregoing provisions of this subsection. (3) The Director-General is, in the exercise of functions conferred or imposed on the Director-General by or under any Act administered by the Minister for Health, subject to the control and direction of the Minister, except in relation to the contents of a recommendation or report made by the Director-General to the Minister. 8A Exercise of Director-General s functions through Corporation, joint ventures or other associations (1) A function of the Director-General may, if the Director-General so determines, be exercised: (a) by the Corporation, or (b) by the Director-General (or by the Corporation) in a partnership, joint venture or other association with other persons or bodies. (2) A function of the Director-General that is exercisable in relation to anything belonging to, or controlled by, the Director-General is also exercisable in relation to anything belonging to, or controlled by, the Corporation. (3) Nothing in this section prevents the Director-General from exercising a function in his or her capacity as the Director-General and entering into contracts or doing other things on behalf of the Crown. Division 4 The Corporation 9 Corporation (1) The Director-General is, for the purpose of exercising the functions expressed to be conferred or imposed on the Corporation by or under this or any other Act, hereby incorporated as a corporation sole with the corporate name Health Administration Corporation. (2) The Corporation: (a) has perpetual succession, (b) shall have an official seal, (c) may take proceedings, and be proceeded against in its corporate name, (d) subject to this Act, may, for the purposes for which it is constituted, purchase, exchange, take on lease, hold, dispose of and otherwise deal with property, Page 6
13 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section 10 (e) may do and suffer all other things that a body corporate may, by law, do and suffer and that are necessary for or incidental to the purposes for which the Corporation is constituted, and (f) is, for the purpose of any Act, a statutory body representing the Crown. (2A) However, the Corporation cannot employ any staff. Note. Staff may be employed under Part 1 of Chapter 9 of the Health Services Act 1997 in the NSW Health Service to enable the Corporation to exercise its functions under this or any other Act. (3) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to: (a) the custody and use of the seal of the Corporation, and (b) the keeping of records concerning the acts, decisions and proceedings of the Corporation. (4) All courts and persons acting judicially: (a) shall take judicial notice of the seal of the Corporation that has been affixed to any instrument or document, and (b) shall, until the contrary is proved, presume that the seal was properly affixed. (5) The Corporation is subject to the control and direction of the Minister. 10 Acquisition of land by Corporation (1) The Corporation, with the approval of the Minister and subject to such terms and conditions as the Minister may attach to the approval, may, for the purpose of the exercise by the Minister, Department, Director-General, Corporation or Foundation of their functions, acquire land (including an interest in land) by agreement or by compulsory process in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Corporation may acquire in any manner authorised by subsection (1): (a) any land of which that proposed to be acquired under this section forms part, and (b) any land adjoining or in the vicinity of any land proposed to be acquired under this section. (3) For the purposes of the Public Works Act 1912, any such acquisition of land is taken to be for an authorised work and the Corporation is, in relation to that authorised work, taken to be the Constructing Authority. (4) Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Public Works Act 1912 do not apply in respect of works constructed under this Act. Page 7
14 Section 11 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 (5) (Repealed) (6) Nothing in this section affects any operation that the Public Works Act 1912 would have if this section had not been enacted and the Corporation had not been constituted. 11 Disposal of land by Corporation The Corporation may, with the approval of the Minister and subject to such terms and conditions as the Minister may attach to the approval, sell, lease, exchange or otherwise deal with or dispose of land that has been acquired by the Corporation under this or any other Act, or any part thereof, and may, with the like approval and subject to the like terms and conditions, grant easements or rights-of-way over any such land so acquired or any part thereof. 12 Power to accept gifts etc (1) The Corporation may acquire, for any purpose connected with: (a) the provision of any health service, or (b) any of the functions of the Minister, Department, Director-General or Corporation, any property by gift, devise or bequest and may agree to and carry out the conditions of any such gift, devise or bequest. (2) The rule of law against remoteness of vesting shall not apply to any such condition to which the Corporation has agreed. 13 Contracts of Corporation (1) The Corporation may make and enter into contracts or agreements with any person for the performance of services, or for the supply of goods, plant, machinery or material with respect to the exercise by the Minister, Department, Director-General, Corporation or Foundation of their functions under this or any other Act. (2) Any such contract or agreement shall be deemed, for the purposes of the Constitution Act 1902, to be a contract or agreement for or on account of the Public Service of New South Wales. (3) The Corporation may, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon, sell or let out on hire any goods, plant, machinery or material acquired by it under this or any other Act. 13A Corporation to manage accounts of health professional councils (1) The Corporation is to establish in the Special Deposits Account in the Treasury a separate account in respect of each of the health professional councils referred to in Schedule 2A. Page 8
15 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section 16 (2) There is to be paid into each such account: (a) the money transmitted to the Corporation in accordance with the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW), and (b) any other money which may lawfully be paid into the account. (3) The Corporation may pay out of such an account: (a) amounts required to meet the costs incurred in the administration or execution of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) and the regulations made under that Law, and (b) amounts necessary to meet any costs associated with the employment of NSW Health Service staff to enable the Corporation to exercise its functions in respect of that council. (3A) For the purposes of section 4E (2) of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002, the Corporation is taken to be the statutory corporation in respect of which staff are employed under Chapter 1A of that Act to enable a health professional council to exercise its functions. Accordingly, the Corporation is authorised to pay out of an account under this section any employment-related costs that the Corporation is directed to pay under section 4E (2) of that Act. (4) The Corporation may invest money in such an account: (a) in the manner authorised by the Public Authorities (Financial Arrangements) Act 1987, or (b) if that Act does not confer power on the Corporation to invest the money, in any other manner approved by the Treasurer. (5) The interest or profits accruing from any such investment are to be paid into the relevant account. 14, 15 (Repealed) Division 5 The Foundation 16 Foundation (1) There is hereby constituted a Corporation with the corporate name New South Wales Health Foundation. (2) The affairs of the Foundation shall be managed by the Minister. (3) Any act, matter or thing done in the name of, or on behalf of, the Foundation by the Minister, or with the authority of the Minister, shall be deemed to have been done by the Foundation. (4) The Foundation: (a) has perpetual succession, Page 9
16 Section 17 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 (b) shall have an official seal, (c) may take proceedings, and be proceeded against, in its corporate name, (d) subject to this Act, may, for the purposes for which it is constituted, purchase, exchange, take on lease, hold, dispose of and otherwise deal with property, (e) may do and suffer all other things that a body corporate may, by law, do and suffer and that are necessary for or incidental to the purposes for which the Foundation is constituted, and (f) is, for the purposes of any Act, a statutory body representing the Crown. (5) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to: (a) the custody and use of the seal of the Foundation, and (b) the keeping of records concerning the acts, decisions and proceedings of the Foundation. (6) All courts and persons acting judicially: (a) shall take judicial notice of the seal of the Foundation that has been fixed to any instrument or document, and (b) shall, until the contrary is proved, presume that the seal was properly affixed. 17 Functions of the Foundation (1) The Foundation shall have and may exercise the functions conferred or imposed on it by or under this or any other Act. (2) The Foundation may provide funds and make grants, and provide other support, for any purpose connected with: (a) the provision of any health service, or (b) any of the functions of the Minister, Department, Director-General or Corporation. (3) The Foundation may, subject to such terms and conditions as it thinks appropriate, give or make available real or personal property (with or without consideration) to or for any person, body or organisation who or which provides any health service. (4) The Foundation may promote and facilitate the raising of funds by means of public appeal or otherwise by any body, institution, association or person for the purposes of subsection (2) or (3). Page 10
17 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section Power to accept gifts etc (1) The Foundation may acquire, for the purposes for which it is constituted, any property by gift, devise or bequest and may agree to and carry out the conditions of any such gift, devise or bequest. (2) The rule of law against remoteness of vesting shall not apply to any such condition to which the Foundation has agreed. (3) The Foundation may act as trustee of money or other property vested in the Foundation upon trust. (4) The Corporation may, with the approval of the Minister, declare, by instrument published in the Gazette, any specified property (including money) acquired by the Corporation under section 12 to be property to which this subsection applies, and the property thereupon becomes vested in the Foundation, and any relevant condition to which the Corporation has agreed shall be deemed to be a condition to which the Foundation has agreed. 19 New South Wales Health Foundation Fund (1) There shall be established and kept in the Treasury an account in the Special Deposits Account to be called the New South Wales Health Foundation Fund (referred to in this section as the Fund). (2) The Fund shall consist of any money received from any source by the Foundation. (3) There may be paid out of the Fund: (a) all charges, costs and expenses incurred by or with the authority of the Minister in the administration of the Foundation, and (b) all funds and grants provided, and other payments made, by the Foundation in the exercise of its functions. (4) Any money acquired by the Foundation shall, for the purposes of the Audit Act 1902, be deemed to be public moneys. Division 6 Councils, committees and advisory bodies 20 Appointment of advisory bodies (1) (3) (Repealed) (4) The Minister may appoint such councils, committees and advisory bodies as the Minister may consider appropriate. (5) A council, committee or advisory body appointed under this section shall have such functions as the Minister may from time to time direct. Page 11
18 Section 20A Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 (6) A council, committee or advisory body appointed under this section shall consist of a person appointed as Chairperson by the Minister and such other persons appointed by the Minister as the Minister thinks fit. (7) The Chairperson and other members so appointed shall hold office for such term as the Minister may specify in respect of each of them in the instruments of their appointment and any such appointment may be terminated by the Minister at any time. (8) The Chairperson and any other member of a council, committee or advisory body appointed under this section shall each be entitled to be paid such fees and allowances (if any) as may be from time to time determined in respect of the Chairperson or member by the Minister. (9) The office of a member of a council, committee or advisory body appointed under this section shall, for the purposes of any Act, be deemed not to be an office or place of profit under the Crown. Division 6A Medical Services Committee 20A 20B Definitions In this Division: Committee means the Medical Services Committee established under section 20B. legislation means legislation of New South Wales, and includes regulations or by-laws made under any Act. patient means a patient or prospective patient of a medical practitioner or of a hospital. subcommittee means a subcommittee of the Committee. Establishment of Medical Services Committee (1) There is hereby established a committee, to be called the Medical Services Committee. (2) The Committee shall consist of 10 medical practitioners, being: (a) a Chairperson appointed as such by the Minister on the nomination of the Committee, and (b) 9 other members appointed by the Minister, of whom: (i) 4 shall be appointed on the nomination of the Council of the Australian Medical Association (NSW) Limited, one of whom shall be a general practitioner and one of whom shall be a salaried medical officer, Page 12
19 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section 20C (ii) 2 shall be appointed on the nomination of the New South Wales State Committee of the Australian Association of Surgeons, one of whom shall be a salaried specialist, (iii) 1 shall be appointed on the nomination of the New South Wales State Committee of the Australian Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons, (iv) 1 shall be appointed on the nomination of the New South Wales Section of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists or the appropriate executive body of that Section, and (v) 1 shall be appointed on the nomination of the Internal Medicine Society of Australia & New Zealand Incorporated. (3) The Committee may, after consultation with the Minister, appoint subcommittees of the Committee for the purpose of advising, consulting with and assisting the Committee, and persons may be appointed as members of such a subcommittee whether or not they are members of the Committee. (4) The members of a subcommittee shall hold office for such term as the Committee may specify in respect of each of them in the instruments of their appointment and any such appointment may be terminated by the Committee at any time. (5) The office of a member of the Committee or of a subcommittee shall, for the purposes of any Act, be deemed not to be an office or place of profit under the Crown. (6) Schedule 4 has effect with respect to the Committee. 20C Functions of Medical Services Committee etc (1) The functions of the Committee are to advise and consult with the Minister and officers of the Department as to: (a) matters affecting the practice of medicine in New South Wales (other than matters arising under State industrial instruments and other industrial matters within the meaning of the Industrial Relations Act 1996), and (b) in particular: (i) existing and proposed legislation, including proposed amendments to existing legislation, affecting or likely to affect patients or medical practitioners or both, in their respective capacities as such, and (ii) existing and proposed administrative arrangements, including proposed changes to existing administrative arrangements, affecting or likely to affect patients or Page 13
20 Section 20D Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 medical practitioners or both, in their respective capacities as such. (2) The Committee shall have such other functions as the Minister may from time to time determine or as are conferred on it by or under this or any other Act. (3) A notice may be served on the Committee in any of the following ways: (a) by instrument in writing served on the Chairperson of the Committee, (b) in such manner as the Committee from time to time determines and communicates to the Minister, (c) in such manner as may be prescribed. Division 6B Quality assurance committees 20D 20E Definitions In this Division: Committee means a committee declared to be an approved quality assurance committee under section 20E. prescribed establishment means: (a) any public hospital or public health organisation within the meaning of the Health Services Act 1997, or (b) (Repealed) (c) an establishment, college, association or other body (other than an industrial or trade union) prescribed by the regulations. service means a health service, and includes any administrative or other service related to a health service. Approved quality assurance committees (1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, declare that a specified committee established by a prescribed establishment is an approved quality assurance committee for the purposes of this Division. (2) The Minister is not to make such a declaration unless the Minister is satisfied that: (a) the committee is established by or within a prescribed establishment in accordance with the rules or official procedures of the establishment, and (b) its functions are to assess and evaluate services provided by one or more prescribed establishments (whether or not provided by the establishment which established the committee), to report and Page 14
21 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section 20F (c) (d) (e) make recommendations concerning those services and to monitor the implementation of its recommendations, and the committee comprises individuals with training and experience appropriate to the services to be assessed and evaluated by the committee, and the exercise of those functions would be facilitated by the provision of immunities and protections afforded by this Division, and it is in the public interest to restrict the disclosure of information compiled by the committee in the course of the exercise of those functions. 20F 20G 20H Restrictions on Committees (1) A Committee does not have authority to conduct an investigation relating to the competence of an individual in providing services. (2) A report furnished or information made available by a Committee must not disclose the identity of an individual who is a provider or recipient of services unless the individual has consented in writing to that disclosure. (3) A Committee is to have regard to the rules of natural justice in so far as they are relevant to the functions of a Committee. Disclosure etc of information A person who is or was a member of a Committee must not make a record of, or divulge or communicate to any person, any information acquired by the person as such a member, except: (a) for the purpose of exercising the functions of a member, or (b) in accordance with the provisions of the regulations as to the furnishing of reports to the Minister or to a prescribed establishment or the making available of information to the public. Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units. Information not to be given in evidence (1) A person who is or was a member of a Committee is neither competent nor compellable: (a) to produce before any court, tribunal, board or person any document in his or her possession or under his or her control that was created by, at the request of or solely for the purpose of the Committee, or Page 15
22 Section 20I Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 (b) to divulge or communicate to any court, tribunal, board or person any matter or thing that came to the person s notice as such a member. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a requirement made in proceedings in respect of any act or omission by a Committee or by a member of a Committee as a member. 20I 20J 20K Findings of Committee not evidence of certain matters A finding or recommendation by a Committee as to the need for changes or improvements in relation to a procedure or practice is not admissible as evidence in any proceedings that the procedure or practice is or was careless or inadequate. Personal liability of members etc (1) Anything done by a Committee, a member of a Committee or any person acting under the direction of a Committee, in good faith for the purposes of the exercise of the Committee s functions, does not subject such a member or person personally to any action, liability, claim or demand. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), a member of a Committee has qualified privilege in proceedings for defamation in respect of: (a) any statement made orally or in writing in the exercise of the functions of a member, or (b) the contents of any report or other information published by the Committee. (3) The members of a Committee are, and are entitled to be, indemnified by the prescribed establishment that established the Committee in respect of any costs incurred in defending proceedings in respect of a liability against which they are protected by this section. Regulations relating to Committees The regulations may make provision for or with respect to: (a) the procedure of Committees and the manner in which they are to exercise their functions, and (b) permitting or requiring Committees to make specified information available to the public, and (c) permitting or requiring Committees to furnish reports concerning their activities to the Minister and to prescribed establishments. Page 16
23 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section 20L Division 6C Root cause analysis teams 20L 20M Definitions In this Division: RCA team means a root cause analysis team appointed under section 20M. relevant health services organisation means: (a) a local health district, or (b) a statutory health corporation prescribed by the regulations, or (c) an affiliated health organisation prescribed by the regulations, or (d) in the case of an incident involving the provision of ambulance services under Chapter 5A of the Health Services Act 1997 or the provision of health support services under Part 1A of Chapter 10 of that Act the Director-General. reportable incident means an incident relating to the provision of health services by a relevant health services organisation, being an incident of a type prescribed by the regulations or set out in a document adopted by the regulations. service means a health service, and includes any administrative or other service related to a health service. Appointment of RCA teams to deal with incidents (1) When a reportable incident involving a relevant health services organisation is reported to the chief executive officer of the organisation, the organisation is to appoint a root cause analysis team in relation to the reportable incident. (1A) When an incident involving the provision of health services by a relevant health services organisation (other than a reportable incident) is reported to the chief executive officer of the organisation, the organisation may appoint a root cause analysis team in relation to the incident if the chief executive officer is of the opinion that the incident may be the result of a serious systemic problem that justifies the appointment of such a team. (2) The relevant health services organisation is, subject to the regulations, to appoint such members of the RCA team as the organisation considers appropriate to undertake the functions of the RCA team in relation to the incident. (3) The relevant health services organisation is to cause a written record to be kept of the persons appointed under this section as members of the RCA team in relation to a particular incident. Page 17
24 Section 20N Health Administration Act 1982 No N 20O Restrictions on RCA teams (1) A RCA team does not have authority to conduct an investigation relating to the competence of an individual in providing services. (2) A report furnished or information made available by a RCA team must not disclose: (a) the name or address of an individual who is a provider or recipient of services unless the individual has consented in writing to that disclosure, or (b) as far as is practicable, any other material that identifies, or may lead to the identification of, such an individual. (3) A member of a RCA team is to act in a fair and reasonable manner in the exercise of his or her functions as such a member. Responsibilities of RCA team in relation to incident (1) A RCA team is to notify in writing the relevant health services organisation by which it was appointed if the RCA team is of the opinion that the incident that it is considering raises matters that may involve professional misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct by a person who is a visiting practitioner or staff member or may indicate that such a person is suffering from an impairment. (2) A RCA team may notify in writing the relevant health services organisation by which it was appointed if the RCA team is of the opinion that the incident that it is considering raises matters that may involve unsatisfactory professional performance by a person who is a visiting practitioner or staff member, but not to the extent that would constitute professional misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct. (2A) A notification under subsection (1) or (2) is to disclose the identity of the person to whom the notification relates (regardless of whether the person consents to the disclosure) and specify whether the notification relates to: (a) professional misconduct, unsatisfactory professional conduct or unsatisfactory professional performance by the person, or (b) the person suffering from an impairment. (2B) A RCA team may notify in writing the relevant health services organisation by which it was appointed if the RCA team is of the opinion that the incident that it is considering raises matters that indicate a problem giving rise to a risk of serious and imminent harm to a person. (3) On completion of its consideration of an incident, a RCA team must prepare a report in writing that contains the following: Page 18
25 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section 20P (a) (b) (c) a description of the incident, a causation statement, being a statement that indicates the reasons why the RCA team considers the incident concerned occurred, if the RCA team has any recommendations as to the need for changes or improvements in relation to a procedure or practice arising out of the incident those recommendations. (3A) Subject to section 20R, the contents of a report of a RCA team under subsection (3) may be disclosed to any person and used for any purpose. (4) In this section: impairment has the same meaning it has in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW). professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct have the same meanings that they have in Part 8 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW). staff member, in relation to a relevant health services organisation, means: (a) a member of the NSW Health Service who is employed under Part 1 of Chapter 9 of the Health Services Act 1997 to enable the organisation to exercise its functions, or (b) in the case of an affiliated health organisation that is not a declared affiliated health organisation under that Act an employee of that organisation. unsatisfactory professional performance means professional performance that is unsatisfactory within the meaning of Division 5 of Part 8 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW). 20P 20Q Disclosure of information A person who is or was a member of a RCA team must not make a record of, or divulge or communicate to any person, any information acquired by the person as such a member, except: (a) for the purpose of exercising the functions of a member, or (b) for the purposes of any recommendation of a RCA team, or (c) for the purposes of any notification or report under section 20O, or (d) in accordance with the regulations. Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units. Information not to be given in evidence (1) A person is neither competent nor compellable to produce any document or disclose any communication to a court, tribunal, board, Page 19
26 Section 20R Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 person or body if the document was prepared, or the communication was made, for the dominant purpose of the conduct of an investigation by a RCA team. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a requirement made in proceedings in respect of any act or omission by a RCA team or by a member of a RCA team as a member. (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a requirement made by a person or body who has been approved by the Director-General to carry out a review or audit of an investigation conducted by a RCA team. 20R 20S 20T Notifications and reports not to be admitted in evidence (1) Evidence as to the contents of a notification or report of a RCA team under section 20O cannot be adduced or admitted in any proceedings. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to proceedings in respect of any act or omission by a RCA team or by a member of a RCA team as a member. Personal liability of members etc (1) Anything done by a RCA team, a member of a RCA team or any person acting under the direction of a RCA team, in good faith for the purposes of the exercise of the RCA team s functions, does not subject such a member or person personally to any action, liability, claim or demand. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), a member of a RCA team has qualified privilege in proceedings for defamation in respect of: (a) any statement made orally or in writing in the exercise of the functions of a member, or (b) the contents of any report or other information published by the RCA team. (3) The members of a RCA team are, and are entitled to be, indemnified by the relevant health services organisation for which the RCA team is appointed in respect of any costs incurred in defending proceedings in respect of a liability against which they are protected by this section. Regulations concerning RCA teams The regulations may make provision for or with respect to the following: (a) the constitution and membership of RCA teams, (b) the functions of RCA teams, (c) the procedure of RCA teams and the manner in which they are to exercise their functions, Page 20
27 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section 21 (d) (e) (f) (g) permitting or requiring RCA teams to make specified information available to the public, permitting or requiring RCA teams to furnish reports concerning their activities to the Minister and to relevant health services organisations, enabling a RCA team to be appointed by a relevant health services organisation in respect of an incident at another relevant health services organisation, the conduct of reviews or audits of investigations conducted by RCA teams. 20U (Repealed) Division 7 Delegation 21 Delegation (1) The Minister, Director-General or Corporation may, by instrument in writing, under seal (in the case of the Corporation), delegate such of their functions (other than this power of delegation) conferred or imposed by or under this or any other Act as are specified in the instrument to any person, and may, by such an instrument, revoke wholly or in part any such delegation. (2) A delegation under subsection (1) may be made to: (a) a specified person (whether a natural person or a corporation), or (b) a person for the time being holding a specified office. (3) Except in so far as the instrument of delegation otherwise provides, a person to whom a function has been delegated under subsection (1) may: (a) in the case of a natural person by writing under the person s hand, or (b) in the case of a corporation by writing under its seal, authorise another person to exercise the function so delegated, and may, in like manner, revoke wholly or in part any such authority. (4) An authority under subsection (3) may be given to: (a) a specified person, or (b) a person for the time being holding a specified office. (5) Any act or thing done or suffered in the exercise of a function by a person to whom the function has been delegated under subsection (1) or by a person authorised by the delegate under subsection (3) to exercise the function has the same force and effect as if it had been done or Page 21
28 Section 21 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 suffered by the Minister, Director-General or Corporation, as the case may require, and shall be deemed to have been done or suffered by the Minister, Director-General or Corporation, as the case may require. (6) A delegation under subsection (1) does not prevent the exercise of a function by the Minister, Director-General or Corporation, as the case may require. (7) The giving of an authority under subsection (3) does not prevent the exercise of a function by the person by whom the authority was given. (8) A document purporting to be signed by a person as a delegate of the Minister, Director-General or Corporation shall be deemed, unless the contrary is established, to have been signed by such a delegate and to have been so signed pursuant to the exercise of a function duly delegated to the person under subsection (1). (9) A document purporting to be signed by a person authorised by a delegate of the Minister, Director-General or Corporation to sign the document shall be deemed, unless the contrary is established, to have been signed by a person so authorised and to have been so signed pursuant to the exercise of a function that the person is duly authorised by such a delegate to exercise. (10) A delegation or authority under this section may be made or given subject to such conditions or such limitations as to the exercise of any of the functions delegated, or as to time or circumstances, as may be specified in the instrument of delegation or authority. (11) The provisions of this section are in addition to and not in derogation of any other provision which authorises or provides for the authorisation of a person to exercise any function of the Minister, Director-General or Corporation. (12) This section does not authorise the delegation of any of the following powers: (a) the power to give an approval for the purposes of section 23 (3) (b) of this Act, (b) the power to conduct an inquiry referred to in section 123 of the Health Services Act 1997, (c) the power to make determinations under section 127 (3) of the Health Services Act Page 22
29 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section 22 Part 3 Miscellaneous 22 Disclosure of information If a person discloses any information obtained in connection with the administration or execution of this Act or any other Act conferring or imposing responsibilities or functions on the Minister, Department, Director-General, Corporation or Foundation and the disclosure is not made: (a) with the consent of the person from whom the information was obtained, (b) in connection with the administration or execution of this Act or any such other Act, (c) for the purposes of any legal proceedings arising out of this Act or any such other Act or of any report of any such proceedings, (d) with other lawful excuse, or (e) in any other prescribed circumstances, that person is guilty of an offence against this Act and, on conviction by a court of summary jurisdiction, liable to a penalty not exceeding 10 penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months. 23 Specially privileged information (1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, authorise any specified person or body, including a council, committee or advisory body appointed under section 20 (1) or (4), to conduct research or conduct investigations into morbidity or mortality occurring within New South Wales. (2) An authorisation under this section may be of general application or be limited by reference to specified factors or exceptions. (3) If a person discloses any information obtained in connection with the conduct of research or investigations in accordance with an authorisation under this section (whether or not the authorisation is still in force at the time of the disclosure) and the disclosure is not made: (a) with the consent of the person from whom the information was obtained, or (b) with the approval of the Minister, that person is guilty of an offence against this Act and, on conviction by a court of summary jurisdiction, liable to a penalty not exceeding 10 penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months. (4) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (3), a person who has obtained any information in connection with the conduct of research or Page 23
30 Section 24 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 investigations in accordance with an authorisation under this section is neither competent nor compellable in any proceedings to answer any question, or to produce any documents, relating to any such information (whether or not the authorisation is still in force at the time of the proceedings), except with the approval of the Governor. (5) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (3), a direction under section 53 (1) of the Coroners Act 2009, in relation to a person who died or may have died as referred to in paragraph (e) of the definition of reportable death in section 6 (1) of that Act, does not require the production of a document or writing containing information obtained in connection with the conduct of research or investigations in accordance with an authorisation under this section (whether or not the authorisation is still in force at the time the order is served), where the information was obtained from a person who administered or was involved in the administration of the anaesthetic concerned. (6) Without limiting the operation of this section, this section has effect notwithstanding anything in the Coroners Act (7) An authorisation may be given under this section so as to operate retrospectively, but not so as thereby to affect a disclosure already made. 24 Proceedings for offences Proceedings for an offence against this Act may be taken only before the Local Court. 25 Protection from liability No matter or thing done in good faith for the purposes of executing this Act or any other Act conferring or imposing functions on the Minister, Department, Director-General, Corporation or Foundation shall subject any person personally to any action, liability, claim or demand. 26 Service of documents Any notice, summons, writ or other proceeding required to be served on the Director-General, Corporation or Foundation may be served by being left at an office of the Department, or, in the case of a notice, by posting it addressed to the Director-General, Corporation or Foundation, as the case may be, at an office of the Department. 27 Authentication of certain documents Every summons, process, demand, order, notice, statement, direction or document requiring authentication by the Corporation or Foundation may be sufficiently authenticated without the seal of the Corporation or Page 24
31 Health Administration Act 1982 No 135 Section 28 Foundation if signed by a person authorised to do so by the Corporation or Foundation. 28 Annual report (1) As soon as practicable after 30 June, but not later than 31 December, in each year, the Director-General shall prepare and furnish to the Minister a report of the work and activities of the Department, Corporation and Foundation for the year ending on 30 June in that year. (2) The Minister shall lay the report, or cause it to be laid, before both Houses of Parliament as soon as practicable after the receipt by the Minister of the report. (3) A report under subsection (1) may include any report required to be made annually in respect of the Department, Corporation or Foundation under any other Act. (4) In so far as a report under subsection (1) includes any matter that relates to a period in respect of which a report is so required to be made under any other Act, the provision of that other Act which requires the report to be made in respect of that period has no operation. 29 Statute law revision (sec 6) (1) On a day to be appointed by the Governor for the purposes of this section and notified by proclamation published in the Gazette, section 6 is repealed. (2) A day shall not be appointed for the purposes of subsection (1) that is earlier than a day on which the Department established by section 6 is abolished, or its name is changed, under section 49 of the Constitution Act (3) The repeal of section 6 by subsection (1) does not itself affect the existence of the Department established by section 6, but nothing in this subsection affects the powers conferred by section 49 of the Constitution Act Repeal of Health Commission Act 1972, and amendments Each Act specified in Column 1 of Schedule 1 is, to the extent specified opposite that Act in Column 2 of that Schedule, repealed. 31 Abolition of Commission The Commission is abolished. 32 Savings, transitional and other provisions Schedule 2 has effect. Page 25