A new nationally agreed standard of care released today aims to reduce the tens of thousands of Australian lives put at risk each year by largely preventable blood clots, which kill four times more people than road accidents.

In 2017, around one-third of prescriptions for antimicrobials in participating Australian hospitals were assessed as not compliant with treatment guidelines. Almost 1 in 4 antimicrobial prescriptions were assessed as inappropriate.

The Commission recently released a new clinical standard on cataract care. The Standard sets out to address the problems of uneven access to cataract surgery, and marked variations in waiting times across the country, making evidence-based recommendations across a range of areas.

The Commission has released a new national clinical care standard that aims to reduce deaths and other harms associated with inappropriate prescribing of opioids in the emergency department and after surgery.

A new clinical standard aimed at helping to reduce Australia’s stillbirth rate by one-fifth over the next two years will be launched today, with a strong focus on cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and care after a loss for bereaved women and their families.

A major report released today has found wide disparities in the use of some health treatments and investigations – revealing potentially adverse outcomes for the youngest members of the community as well as older Australians.

Reforms are underway to boost Australia’s clinical trials sector and attract more clinical trials – giving Australian patients increased access to potentially life-saving treatments and medications.

The most comprehensive report produced on Australian antimicrobial use and resistance trends has found that antimicrobial use in the community is falling, but they continue to be overprescribed, while some dangerous bacteria are growing increasingly resistant to common antibiotics.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), in partnership with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission), today released the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019).

A revised Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights to be launched today encourages people receiving health care in Australia to actively engage in decisions about their care with their healthcare provider.