New South Wales: Health Administration Act 1982 (NSW)

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. Part 1 Preliminary 1 Name of Act This Act may be cited as the Health Administration Act 1982. 2 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may be appointed by the Governor in respect thereof and as may be notified by proclamation published in the Gazette. 3 (Repealed) 4 Definitions (1) In this Act, except in so far as the context or subject-matter otherwise indicates or requires— Corporation means the Health Administration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. Foundation means the New South Wales Health Foundation constituted by section 16. Health Secretary means the Secretary of the Ministry. 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 1997. Ministry means the Ministry of Health. regulations means regulations under this Act. (1A) The expression "NSW Health" may be used to describe the Corporation, the Ministry and any other body and organisation under the control and direction of the Minister or the Health Secretary. (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 (b) the exercise of a function includes, where the function is a duty, a reference to the performance of the duty. Part 2 Administration Division 1 The Minister 5 Functions of the Minister (1) The Minister may formulate general policies, in accordance with which the functions of the Minister, Ministry, Health Secretary, 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. Division 2 6, 7 (Repealed) Division 3 The Health Secretary 8 Functions of the Health Secretary (1) The Health Secretary shall have and may exercise such functions as are conferred or imposed on the Health Secretary by or under this or any other Act. (2) The Health Secretary 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 Public Service agency, 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, (j) to do such supplemental, incidental or consequential acts as may be necessary or expedient for the exercise of the Health Secretary's functions under the foregoing provisions of this subsection. (3) The Health Secretary is, in the exercise of functions conferred or imposed on the Health Secretary 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 Health Secretary to the Minister. 8A Exercise of Health Secretary's functions through Corporation, joint ventures or other associations (1) A function of the Health Secretary may, if the Health Secretary so determines, be exercised— (a) by the Corporation, or (b) by the Health Secretary (or by the Corporation) in a partnership, joint venture or other association with other persons or bodies. (2) A function of the Health Secretary that is exercisable in relation to anything belonging to, or controlled by, the Health Secretary is also exercisable in relation to anything belonging to, or controlled by, the Corporation. (3) Nothing in this section prevents the Health Secretary from exercising a function in his or her capacity as the Health Secretary and entering into contracts or doing other things on behalf of the Crown. Division 4 The Corporation 9 Corporation (1) The Health Secretary 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, (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, Ministry, Health Secretary, 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 1991. (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. (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 (1) 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. (2) The Corporation may request the Minister to give approval to (and the Minister may approve) a disposition of land, being a disposition— (a) that is contrary to a provision of, or a trust arising under, the Crown grant of that land, or (b) that, if this section had not been enacted, may make the land liable to be forfeited to the Crown. (3) If the Minister has given an approval under this section to a disposition of land, the disposition of the land— (a) is not to be regarded as a breach of any provision of, or any trust arising under, the Crown grant of that land, and (b) does not make the land liable to be forfeited to the Crown. 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, Ministry, Health Secretary 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, Ministry, Health Secretary, 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 established under section 41B of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW). (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 60 (1) of the Government Sector Employment Act 2013, the Corporation is taken to be the statutory body in respect of which persons are employed under Part 4 of that Act to enable a health professional council established under section 41B of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) 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 60 (1) of that Act. (4) The Corporation may invest money in such an account— (a) if the Corporation is a GSF agency for the purposes of Part 6 of the Government Sector Finance Act 2018—in any way that the Corporation is permitted to invest money under that Part, or (b) if the Corporation is not a GSF agency for the purposes of Part 6 of the Government Sector Finance Act 2018—in any way 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, (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, Ministry, Health Secretary 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). 18 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 is taken to be government money for the purposes of the Government Sector Audit Act 1983 and Government Sector Finance Act 2018. 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. (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 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. 20B 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, (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 employees of the Ministry 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 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 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. 20E 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 make recommendations concerning those services and to monitor the implementation of its recommendations, and (c) the committee comprises individuals with training and experience appropriate to the services to be assessed and evaluated by the committee, and (d) the exercise of those functions would be facilitated by the provision of immunities and protections afforded by this Division, and (e) 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 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. 20G 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. 20H 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 (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 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. 20J 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. 20K 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. Division 6C 20L–20U (Repealed) Division 7 Delegation 21 Delegation (1) The Minister, Health Secretary 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 suffered by the Minister, Health Secretary or Corporation, as the case may require, and shall be deemed to have been done or suffered by the Minister, Health Secretary or Corporation, as the case may require. (6) A delegation under subsection (1) does not prevent the exercise of a function by the Minister, Health Secretary 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, Health Secretary 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, Health Secretary 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, Health Secretary or Corporation. (12) This section does not authorise the delegation of any of the following powers— (a) (Repealed) (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 1997. Part 2A Response to incidents Division 1 Preliminary 21A Definitions In this Part— assessor means an assessor appointed under Division 2. health practitioner has the same meaning it has in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW). health service includes any administrative or other service related to a health service. impairment has the same meaning it has in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW). incident reviewer—see section 21L. performance or impairment issue, in relation to a health practitioner, means— (a) professional misconduct, unsatisfactory professional conduct or unsatisfactory professional performance by the health practitioner, or (b) the health practitioner suffering from an impairment. professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct have the same meanings as they have in Part 8 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW). relevant health services organisation—see section 21B. reportable incident means an incident of a type prescribed by the regulations or set out in a document adopted by the regulations. serious adverse event review means a root cause analysis or any other type of review prescribed by the regulations. serious adverse event review team means a serious adverse event review team appointed under Division 3. 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). 21B Incidents to which Part applies This Part applies to the following incidents— (a) an incident involving the provision of a health service by a local health district, in which case the relevant health services organisation in respect of the incident is the local health district, (b) an incident involving the provision of a health service by a statutory health corporation prescribed by the regulations, in which case the relevant health services organisation in respect of the incident is the statutory health corporation, (c) an incident involving the provision of a health service by an affiliated health organisation prescribed by the regulations, in which case the relevant health services organisation in respect of the incident is the affiliated health organisation, (d) an incident involving the provision of a health service under Chapter 5A (Ambulance services) of the Health Services Act 1997 or the provision of a service under Part 1A of Chapter 10 of that Act, in which case the relevant health services organisation in respect of the incident is the Health Secretary. Division 2 Preliminary risk assessment 21C Appointment of assessors to assess incidents (1) When an incident is reported to the relevant health services organisation in respect of the incident, the organisation must appoint one or more assessors to carry out a preliminary risk assessment of the incident if— (a) it is of the opinion that the incident is (or may be) a reportable incident, or (b) the incident is not a reportable incident but may be the result of a serious systemic problem and the organisation is of the opinion that a preliminary risk assessment of the incident should be carried out. (2) Assessors may be appointed in response to a particular incident or otherwise. (3) The persons appointed as assessors in respect of an incident must (subject to the regulations) be persons that the relevant health services organisation reasonably considers can properly carry out a preliminary risk assessment of the incident. 21D Functions of assessors in relation to incidents An assessor is to carry out a preliminary risk assessment of the incident and is to provide advice (in writing or otherwise) to the relevant health services organisation to assist the organisation in understanding the events comprising the incident and the measures required to appropriately manage the incident and remove or mitigate any risk. 21E Immediate notification if person at risk An assessor must immediately advise the relevant health services organisation in writing if the assessor is of the opinion that the incident in respect of which the assessor was appointed raises matters that indicate a problem giving rise to a risk of serious or imminent harm to a person. 21F Outcome of assessment of incidents (1) A relevant health services organisation may only disclose an advice of an assessor or any information obtained from the advice as follows— (a) to provide the advice to the Health Secretary, (b) to notify any person or body authorised under section 23 of the incident, (c) to advise a serious adverse event review team appointed to carry out a serious adverse event review of the incident to which the advice relates, (d) to provide relevant information to a patient involved in the incident, a family member or carer of the patient or a person nominated by any such patient, family member or carer, (e) to a law enforcement agency or regulatory body, (f) in any other manner as may be prescribed by the regulations. (2) A relevant health services organisation must take reasonable steps to not disclose information that identifies a person (other than the patient involved in the incident) when it provides information under subsection (1) (d). Division 3 Serious adverse event review 21G Appointment of team to review incidents (1) The relevant health services organisation in respect of an incident must appoint one or more persons as a serious adverse event review team to carry out a serious adverse event review of the incident if— (a) following the preliminary risk assessment, the organisation is satisfied— (i) the incident is a reportable incident, or (ii) the incident is not a reportable incident but may be the result of a serious systemic problem and in the organisation's opinion a serious adverse event review of the incident should be carried out, or (b) the Health Secretary— (i) considers the incident is a reportable incident, or may be the result of a serious systemic problem, and (ii) directs the organisation to carry out a serious adverse event review of the incident. (2) Despite subsection (1), a relevant health services organisation may, but is not required to, appoint a serious adverse event review team to carry out a serious adverse event review of an incident— (a) in circumstances prescribed by the regulations, or (b) if the Health Secretary has informed the organisation that the Health Secretary intends to conduct a review of, or an inquiry into, the incident. (3) The persons appointed as a serious adverse event review team in respect of an incident must (subject to the regulations) be persons that the relevant health services organisation reasonably considers can properly carry out a serious adverse event review of the incident. (3A) The relevant health services organisation may— (a) replace a member of a serious adverse event review team if the member is unable to complete the serious adverse event review, or (b) appoint one or more additional members to a serious adverse event team if satisfied the appointments are necessary to allow the team to complete the serious adverse event review in a timely and effective way. (4) The relevant health services organisation is to cause a written record to be kept of the persons appointed as a serious adverse event review team. (5) The Health Secretary may issue directions setting out the type of serious adverse event review, and the manner in which the serious adverse event review is to be carried out, in respect of an incident or a class of incidents. 21H Serious adverse event review of incident (1) A serious adverse event review team is to carry out a serious adverse event review of the incident in respect of which it was appointed. (2) A serious adverse event review team must, on completion of the serious adverse event review of an incident, provide a report in writing to the relevant health services organisation that sets out a description of the incident and details of the following findings identified by the team— (a) how the incident occurred, (b) any factors that caused or contributed to the incident, (c) any procedures, practices or systems that could be reviewed (areas for review findings) for the purposes of a recommendations report. (3) After considering the findings of the serious adverse event review team, the relevant health services organisation may (and must if the findings include areas for review findings) direct the team to prepare a report (a recommendations report) setting out its recommendations (if any) as to the need for changes or improvements in relation to a procedure, practice or system (including clinical redesign) arising out of the incident. (4) The relevant health services organisation may, for the purposes of the preparation of a recommendations report, appoint additional persons to the serious adverse event review team. (5) The serious adverse event review team must provide the recommendations report in writing to the relevant health services organisation. (6) Subject to section 21O (Information not to be given in evidence), the contents of a report of a reviewer under this section may be disclosed to any person and used for any purpose. 21I Immediate notification if person at risk A serious adverse event review team must immediately advise the relevant health services organisation in writing if it is of the opinion that the incident in respect of which it was appointed raises matters that indicate a problem giving rise to a risk of serious or imminent harm to a person. 21J Notification about performance or impairment of health practitioner (1) A serious adverse event review team must advise the relevant health services organisation in writing as soon as practicable once it is of the opinion that the incident in respect of which it was appointed raises matters that may involve a performance or impairment issue (other than unsatisfactory professional performance) in relation to a health practitioner. (2) A serious adverse event review team may advise the relevant health services organisation in writing if it is of the opinion that the incident raises matters that may involve unsatisfactory professional performance by a health practitioner. (3) A written advice under this section must disclose the identity of the health practitioner to whom the notification relates (regardless of whether the health practitioner consents to the disclosure) and the nature of the concern, and specify whether the notification relates to— (a) professional misconduct, unsatisfactory professional conduct or unsatisfactory professional performance by the health practitioner, or (b) the health practitioner suffering from an impairment. 21K Discontinuing serious adverse event review (1) The relevant health services organisation may authorise a serious adverse event review team to discontinue taking any further steps in relation to a serious adverse event review of an incident— (a) if advice has been provided to the organisation under section 21J (Notification about performance or impairment of health practitioner) and the organisation is of the opinion that the incident was substantially caused by a performance or impairment issue in relation to a health practitioner and the team is not likely to identify any other root causes, contributory factors or system improvements, or (b) in circumstances prescribed by the regulations. (2) A serious adverse event review team that is authorised under this section may, if it considers it to be appropriate, determine to take no further steps in relation to the serious adverse event review and in such a case may discontinue the review. Division 4 Incident reviewers 21L Meaning of "incident reviewer" In this Part— incident reviewer means a member of a serious adverse event review team or an assessor. 21M Restrictions on incident reviewers (1) An incident reviewer does not have authority to carry out an investigation relating to the competence of an individual in providing services. (2) Except as otherwise provided by or under this Part, an advice or report furnished by a serious adverse event review 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) An incident reviewer is to act in a fair and reasonable manner in the exercise of his or her functions as an incident reviewer. 21N Disclosure of information A person who is or was an incident reviewer must not make a record of, or divulge or communicate to any person, any information acquired by the person as such a reviewer, except— (a) for the purpose of exercising the functions of an incident reviewer, or (b) for the purpose of any advice provided as an incident reviewer, or (c) for the purpose of any advice or report under this Part, or (d) in accordance with the regulations. Maximum penalty—50 penalty units. 21O Information not to be given in evidence (1) A person is neither competent nor compellable to produce any document or disclose any communication (or to disclose any information that the person obtained from any such document or communication) to a court, tribunal, board, person or body if the document was prepared, or the communication was made, for the dominant purpose of the exercise of a function under this Part by an incident reviewer. (2) This section does not apply to a requirement made— (a) in proceedings in respect of any act or omission by an incident reviewer, or (b) by a person or body who has been approved by the Health Secretary to carry out a review or audit of an assessment or review by an incident reviewer. 21P Advice and reports not to be admitted in evidence (1) Evidence as to the contents of an advice or report of an incident reviewer cannot be adduced or admitted in any proceedings. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to proceedings in respect of any act or omission by an incident reviewer. 21Q Personal liability of incident reviewers (1) Anything done by an incident reviewer or any person acting under the direction of an incident reviewer, in good faith for the purposes of the exercise of the incident reviewer's functions, does not subject the incident reviewer or person personally to any action, liability, claim or demand. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), an incident reviewer 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 an incident reviewer, or (b) the contents of any advice or report or other information published by an incident reviewer. (3) An incident reviewer is, and is entitled to be, indemnified in respect of any costs incurred in defending proceedings in respect of a liability against which the reviewer is protected by this section by the relevant health services organisation in respect of the incident for which the incident reviewer was appointed. Division 5 Miscellaneous 21R When incident is reported to relevant health services organisation (1) An incident is reported to a relevant health services organisation (other than the Health Secretary) when the incident is reported to— (a) the chief executive of the organisation, or (b) if the incident reporting procedures of the organisation specify another person to whom incidents are to be reported—that other person. (2) An incident is reported to the Health Secretary when it is reported to the Health Secretary or to a person nominated by the Health Secretary for the purposes of this Part. 21S Regulations for purposes of Part The regulations may make provision for or with respect to the following— (a) the appointment of persons as members of a serious adverse event review team or as assessors, (b) the functions of incident reviewers and the manner in which they are to exercise those functions, (c) the procedures of a preliminary risk assessment or a serious adverse event review, (d) permitting or requiring incident reviewers or a relevant health services organisation to make specified information (including personal information and health information) available to the public, (e) permitting or requiring incident reviewers to furnish reports concerning their activities to the Minister and to relevant health services organisations, (f) the carrying out of reviews or audits of any preliminary risk assessment or serious adverse event review, (g) the notification by relevant health services organisations of incidents to persons or bodies who may be required to exercise functions under this Part or Part 4 of the Private Health Facilities Act 2007, (h) the exchange of information between a relevant health services organisation and persons or bodies who may be required to exercise functions under this Part or Part 4 of the Private Health Facilities Act 2007 for the purposes of the exercise of those functions. 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, Ministry, Health Secretary, 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(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 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 2009. (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. 23A Exchange of information between health officials (1) A health official may disclose information that the health official obtains in the exercise of the health official's functions to another health official for the purposes of enabling the other health official to exercise the other health official's functions. (2) A health official may disclose information under this section only if the health official considers that the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in protecting the confidentiality of the information and the privacy of any person to whom the information relates. (3) Nothing in this section limits the ability of a heath official to disclose information under any other Act or law. (4) In this section— health official means a person or body that exercises functions under any of the following— (a) the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2007, (b) the Health Care Complaints Act 1993, (c) the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW), (d) the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966, (e) the Private Health Facilities Act 2007, (f) the Public Health Act 2010, (g) an Act or instrument, or a provision of an Act or instrument, prescribed by the regulations. 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, Ministry, Health Secretary, 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 Health Secretary, Corporation or Foundation may be served by being left at an office of the Ministry, or, in the case of a notice, by posting it addressed to the Health Secretary, Corporation or Foundation, as the case may be, at an office of the Ministry. 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 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 Health Secretary shall prepare and furnish to the Minister a report of the work and activities of the Ministry, 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 Ministry, 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. 29–31 (Repealed) 32 Savings, transitional and other provisions Schedule 2 has effect. 33 Transfer of health employees Schedule 3 has effect. 34 Regulations The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act. Part 4 35 (Repealed) Schedule 1 (Repealed) Schedule 2 Savings, transitional and other provisions (Section 32) Part 1 Provisions consequent on enactment of this Act 1 Definitions In this Schedule— appointed day means the day appointed and notified under section 2 (2). cognate Acts means this Act, the Public Service (Department of Health) Amendment Act 1982, the Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration (Department of Health) Amendment Act 1982 and the Miscellaneous Acts (Health Administration) Amendment Act 1982. 2 Members of Commission (1) A person holding office as a member of the Commission immediately before the appointed day shall cease to hold office as such on the appointed day. (2) A member of the Commission who ceases to hold office as such by reason of the operation of subclause (1) is not entitled to be paid any remuneration or compensation by reason of the member's ceasing to hold that office, but nothing in this subclause prevents the payment to that person of such compensation (if any) as the Minister determines out of money provided by Parliament. (3) A member of the Commission who was, immediately before the member's appointment as a member, an officer of the Public Service and who ceases to hold office as such a member by reason of the operation of subclause (1) is, if the member is under the age of 60 years, entitled to be appointed to some position in the Public Service not lower in classification and salary than that which the member held immediately before the member's appointment as a member. 3 Servants of Commission (1) The persons who, immediately before the appointed day, were servants of the Commission appointed or employed under section 14A of the Health Commission Act 1972 shall, on that day, become employees of the Corporation, and shall be deemed to have been appointed and employed under section 14 of this Act. (2) For the purposes of any law, any period of service with the Commission by a person referred to in subclause (1) shall be deemed to be a period of service with the Corporation. 4 Other staff of Commission (1) The persons who, immediately before the appointed day, were officers and temporary employees of the Administrative Office attached to the Commission shall, on that day, become officers and temporary employees (respectively) of the Department. (2) Expressions used in this clause shall, unless the contrary intention appears, have the same meanings respectively as they have in the Public Service Act 1979. 5 Property, rights and liabilities of Commission (1) On and from the appointed day— (a) all real and personal property and all right and interest therein and all management and control thereof that, immediately before that day, was vested in or belonged to the Commission shall vest in and belong to the Corporation, (b) all moneys and liquidated and unliquidated claims that, immediately before that day, were payable to or recoverable by the Commission shall be moneys and liquidated and unliquidated claims payable to or recoverable by the Corporation, (c) all proceedings commenced before that day by the Commission and pending immediately before that day shall be deemed to be proceedings pending on that day by the Corporation and all proceedings so commenced by any person against the Commission and pending immediately before that day shall be deemed to be proceedings pending on that day by that person against the Corporation, (d) all contracts, agreements, arrangements and undertakings entered into with, and all securities lawfully given to or by, the Commission and in force immediately before that day shall be deemed to be contracts, agreements, arrangements and undertakings entered into with and securities given to or by the Corporation, (e) the Corporation may, in addition to pursuing any other remedies or exercising any other powers that may be available to it, pursue the same remedies for the recovery of moneys and claims referred to in this subclause and for the prosecution of actions and proceedings so referred to as the Commission might have done but for the enactment of the cognate Acts, (f) the Corporation may enforce and realise any security or charge existing immediately before that day in favour of the Commission and may exercise any powers thereby conferred on the Commission as if the security or charge were a security or charge in favour of the Corporation, (g) all debts, moneys and claims, liquidated and unliquidated, that, immediately before that day, were due or payable by, or recoverable against, the Commission shall be debts due by, moneys payable by and claims recoverable against, the Corporation, and (h) all liquidated and unliquidated claims for which the Commission would, but for the enactment of the cognate Acts, have been liable shall be liquidated and unliquidated claims for which the Corporation shall be liable. (2) On and from the appointed day, in any other Act or in any regulation, by-law or other statutory instrument or in any document, whether of the same or of a different kind, a reference, or a reference required immediately before the appointed