Medical Negligence Hot Topics 
Code of Conduct for unregistered NSW health practitioners in force
On 1 August 2008, a Code of Conduct for unregistered health practitioners came into force. The Code underpins the amendments made by the Health Legislation Amendment (Unregistered Health Practitioners) Act 2006 which broadened the Commission’s powers in relation to unregistered health practitioners - that is:
- health providers who are not registered with a registration board, such as naturopaths, acupuncturists, and psychotherapists
- practitioners whose registration has been suspended or cancelled, and who seek to practise in an area where they do not need registration
- registered practitioners who provide health services that are unrelated to their registration.
The Commission is planning an information session for peak bodies representing unregistered health practitioners in NSW on 9 September 2008.
Under clause 17 of the Regulation, practitioners must display a copy of the code at the premises where the practitioner carries out his or her practice and a copy of a notice approved by the Director General giving information about the way in which clients can make complaints to the Health Care Complaints Commission.
The code of conduct is available online here:
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/fragview/inforce/subordleg+644+2002+sch.3+0+N
Australian Institute of Health & Welfare
Australian Institute of Health & Welfare issued a report entitled 'Safety and quality of health care no. 4; Public and private sector medical indemnity claims in Australia 2005-06'. That report presents data from the combined Medical Indemnity National Collection (MINC) of public and private sector claims. Data on claims that were current at any time over the period of 1 July 2005 - 30 June 2006 are included.
The report includes the circumstances that gave rise to claims, the medical specialties involved in claims, the people making claims, and the size and length of time claims have been open. The report is available online at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10613
Insurance Statistics Australia Report July 2008
Insurance Statistics Australia has released an updated 2008 Claims and Premiums trend analysis which covers about 80% of privately insured medical practitioners in Australia.
A copy of the report is available in the publications section the MIIAA website.
To obtain a copy of the report click the below link:
Medical Indemnity Report - ISA
Australian Council on Safety & Quality in Healthcare
National Patient Charter of Rights Consultation Process
The consultation report on a draft National Patient Charter of Rights, together with submissions received by the Commission are now available for viewing.
Review of the appointment, management and termination of Dr Graeme Reeves as a visiting medical officer in the NSW public health system
Former Judge Deirdre O'Connor was engaged in Februrary 2008 by NSW Health to conduct a review of certain matters arising out of the case of the de-registered medical practitioner, Mr Graeme Reeves.
Part 2 of the review has now been released by the NSW Government. It concerns the appointment, management and termination of Dr Graeme Reeves as a visiting medical officer in the NSW public health system, to assist assessing the processes followed in the appointment, management and termination of Dr Reeves.
Part 2 of the review is available from NSW Health online at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/resources/news/oconnor_2_pdf.asp
Open disclosure pilot evaluation
The evaluation of the National Open Disclosure Pilot has been published by the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care. The brief for the external evaluation of the pilot was to evaluate what is it about this kind of intervention that works; for whom does it work; in what respects does it work; and why does it work?
To view the evaluation of the pilot on the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care website click this link: www.safetyandquality.org.
Incident Management in the NSW Public Health System - March 2008
The Clinical Excellence Commission has released a new report, entitled 'Incident Management in the NSW Public Health System 2007, January to June'.
This report follows on from the previous annual series on adverse events in the NSW health system and is available for download here:
http://www.cec.health.nsw.gov.au/pdf/07_01to06_incident_management.pdf
Additional reports will be issued every six months. The adverse events report series is part of the ongoing collaboration between the Clinical Excellence Commission and the Quality and Safety Branch of the NSW Department of Health
National Patient Charter of Rights Consultation
Closing date for submissions 7 March 2008
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is seeking written submissions on a draft National Patient Charter of Rights. The National Charter of rights will underpin the provision of safe and high quality health care and support a shared understanding of the rights and responsibilities of patients, consumers and health care providers. See the Commission's website for more details: http://www.safetyandquality.org/
Safety and quality of health care - 29 August 2007
The Medical Indemnity National Data Collection Public Sector 2005-06 report presents data on the number, nature, incidence and costs of public sector medical indemnity claims over the period 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006. The report describes incidents that gave rise to claims, the people affected by these incidents, and the size, duration and outcomes of medical indemnity claims.
This is the fourth report originating from the Medical Indemnity National collection (public sector) and the first report to contain trended data incorporating three full financial years of claims information.
To view the report at no cost online click here.
Insurance statistics Australia report - 24 August 2007
The Insurance Statistics Australia report on private sector medical indemnity premiums and claims to 30 June 2006 was released at the MIIAA Medical Indemnity Forum on 24 August 2007. The Executive Summary for the report is available on the link below. For additional background and earlier reports, click here.
Download the MI Executive Summary Report (107KB).
A national picture of medical indemnity claims - 4 May 2007
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a new report presenting the first years’ data from the combined Medical Indemnity National Collection of public and private sector medical indemnity claims. This is the first report on medical indemnity in Australia to combine public and private sector data. There is information on the incidents that give rise to and the medical specialties involved in claims, the people affected by these incidents, the nature of injury, and the size, outcome and length of time claims have been open.
To view the report click here.
The media release is available on the link below:
Queensland Patient Safety Report - 26 April 2007
The first Queensland Health report on clinical incidents and sentinel events was released in April 2007. Report author Dr John Wakefield, Queensland Health's Patient Safety Centre senior director, said staff were being encouraged to report incidents as part of efforts to make the public hospital system more resilient to mistakes.
The report is available online at the link below:
Medical Indemnity Review - 22 February 2007
The report of the recent review of medical indemnity policy - Achieving stability and premium affordability in the Australian medical indemnity marketplace - was released on 22 February 2007. The report indicates that medical indemnity insurance has become more affordable, and supports the continuance of current arrangements without substantial change in policy or administration.
- Report
To view the 2006 Hot Topics Archive, click here.