Background - Development of the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

Healthcare services can implement the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards at their own pace, with support available in a number of ways, including:

• Resources such as guides, implementation examples and self-assessment and monitoring tools developed by the Commission
• Access to tailored advice via the Commission’s Safety and Quality Advice Centre
• Specific resources, supports and guidance from some peak bodies and local Primary Health Networks.

The release of the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards is the first step, with detailed resources currently in development.

Healthcare services can commence implementing the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards now. Healthcare services seeking additional support with implementation may wish to wait until more comprehensive resources are made available.

Accreditation to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards is expected to be available from mid-2022; healthcare services will be able to seek accreditation at any point after the commencement date.

Further details about how to become accredited to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards will be published as this information becomes available.

The Primary and Community Healthcare Standards are applicable in all healthcare services that are directly involved in patient care in primary and/or community setting. These services address the prevention, treatment and management of illness and injury, and the preservation of physical and mental wellbeing. They vary in size and modes of delivery, and are carried out by a diverse range of healthcare providers.

In addition to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards, the Commission has developed, or is in the process of developing, a range of nationally consistent safety and quality standards. These include:

• National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
• National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards
• National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations (in development)

All safety and quality standards developed by the Commission are aligned in structure and intent and focus on embedding clinical governance and consumer partnerships in safe, high-quality healthcare services.

In certain circumstances, a regulator or funder of a healthcare service may mandate accreditation to a particular standard. If there is no requirement to adhere to a particular standard, a healthcare service may choose to implement the standard that is most applicable to their service context.

Primary and community healthcare services directly involved in patient care are strongly encouraged to implement the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.

Accreditation, where independent assessment of implementation occurs, is voluntary unless required to satisfy regulatory or contractual obligations. Accredited healthcare services will be able to display a certificate of accreditation and accreditation badge which will be identifiable to the public.

If your healthcare service is accredited to a profession-specific standard, such as general practice and community pharmacy, these should align with the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards. This will ensure a nationally consistent approach and give patients and consumers confidence they are accessing safe and high-quality health care, wherever health care is delivered.

The Primary and Community Healthcare Standards are at the core of safety and quality, and all primary and community healthcare services directly involved in patient care are strongly encouraged to implement them.

Where possible, the Commission is working with relevant organisations to investigate ways to reduce the administrative burden associated with multiple sets of standards.

That depends.

If your healthcare service is accredited to the NSQHS Standards on a voluntary basis, you can transition to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards once accreditation becomes available (expected mid-2022) at the time of reaccreditation.

If your healthcare service is accredited to the NSQHS Standards as part of regulatory or contractual requirements, for example, a Local Health Network, you will need to check with your regulator and/or funder.

Further details about how to become accredited to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards will be published as this information becomes available.

The Primary and Community Healthcare Standards and the NSQHS Standards are aligned in structure and intent and focus on embedding clinical governance and consumer partnerships in safe, high-quality healthcare services.