Launch of the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

Primary and community healthcare services play a vital role in Australia’s healthcare delivery model. They provide the first entry point to Australia’s healthcare system. In recognition of the importance of these services, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has published its first safety and quality standards for primary and community health care.

These Standards align with the Commission’s National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards, which all hospitals and day procedure centres are required to comply with. Consistent with the NSQHS standards, the Commission states that the standards for primary and community healthcare ‘highlight the importance of clinical governance and consumer partnerships’ in providing high-quality health care.  

Following a lengthy public consultation process, the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards will be launched via a webcast on 12 October 2021.

In launching the standards, the Commission will be providing information on how the standards were developed, how they will benefit end-users, why they should be implemented and the next steps in terms of accreditation and support. Resources will soon be made available to support healthcare services implement the standards, and to assist consumers in understanding what the standards will mean for them, and accreditation is expected to commence from mid-2022.  

The accreditation process will be managed under the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation (AHSSQA) Scheme. The Commission states that while accreditation against these standards will be voluntary, it is noted that accreditation against these standards may be required to meet regulatory, contractual or funding obligations.

The development of these standards is a significant milestone in acknowledging the valuable contribution of primary and community health care services in ensuring all Australians have access to high-quality healthcare.

Click here to register to attend the launch and for further information.