EmailHospital Circular 35/2003
Date Issued: 31 December 2003
Publication: 35/2003
Distribution: All Public and Private Hospitals; Ambulance Services
Subject: Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT) Act 2003
Purpose: To provide advice on the implications of the NEPT Act 2003, passed in the Spring Session of Parliament, for all hospitals including hospitals that contract for transport services and those that operate transport services.
In the second reading speech before Parliament (the transcript of the debate is available on the Parliament - Hansard site (28/8/2003), the Minister for Health stated “the current system of simply requiring providers to hold a licence issued by the taxi directorate, does not provide an effective means of ensuring that those providing such transports have the clinical skills and equipment required to protect the patient’s health and safety”.
Parliament’s intention then, in passing the legislation, is to provide an assurance of quality and safety in the provision of transports for patients. This is a timely reminder for hospitals to ensure the arrangements they operate are undertaken in a safe manner, consistent with the hospital’s duty of care to its patients.
The Act will lead to the making of regulations to set minimum standards for non-emergency transport that may vary according to the type/clinical condition of patient to be transported. Regulations are expected to cover areas such as:
- the kinds of patients who may be transported and with what level of care;
- safety, cleanliness and hygiene;
- staffing including the minimum number of staff required for specified types of transports, as well as requirements as to their qualifications and clinical accreditation;
- maintenance of vehicles and equipment; and
- quality assurance and clinical supervision.
The detailed work of making regulations will commence early in the new year and will involve extensive DHS consultations with the industry over the next year. As one of the key stakeholders, hospitals will be involved in the key steps in the regulation drafting process. This process is expected to take a minimum of 12 months to complete.
The development of standards needs to occur in tandem with an analysis of the cost implications for the industry to meet those standards. Achieving a balance between quality, safety and cost will be the challenge.
Hospitals may be in the process of, or soon commencing contract negotiations with private patient transport providers. I would encourage hospitals to consider incorporating contract clause provisions that can flexibly respond to future standards requirements.
Lidia Slucki, Senior Program Manager, Ambulance and Acute Programs, DHS is responsible for the development of the Draft Regulatory Impact Statement and can be contacted on 9616 1320 or email: lidia.slucki@dhs.vic.gov.au
Shane Solomon
Executive Director
Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services
