Continuous Improvement in Health and Disability Services

Continuous Improvement in Health and Disability Services
A discussion paper on the review of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001

Date of publication: 27 July 2007
Submissions closed: Friday 5 October 2007

Summary
The Ministry of Health is reviewing the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 (the Act).

The Act came into force on 1 July 2002, replacing the previous licensing regime for providers of health care services under the Hospitals Act 1957, Disabled Persons Community Welfare Act 1975 and Old People’s Homes Regulations 1987. The Act focuses on safety, quality and continuous improvement of health and disability services.

The review aims to make the legislation work better to achieve the same aims.

This document consists of a discussion document on certain aspects of the review of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 and a submission form to guide individuals and organisations making a submission.

Please note:

This consultation is part of preliminary discussions around some of the more significant aspects of the review. The Ministry of Health is in an information-gathering stage and does not have a view on the best way to change the Act, or whether to stay with the status quo. Depending on submissions received from this round of consultation there may be a need for further in-depth consultation.

The discussion document
The discussion document provides information on the current situation, a brief outline of the range of approaches towards healthcare regulation found internationally, what problems there are at the present time, and what the review will consider to address those problems.

The submission form
The submission form, found at the end of this document, asks you questions about the information contained in the discussion document.

Answer as many or as few questions as you wish. Where you can, please provide any examples or summarise your experience in support of your submissions.

Regulatory impact analysis
The discussion document and submission form include substantive regulatory impact analysis elements. A formal regulatory impact analysis (analysis of regulatory proposals), designed to improve the quality of regulatory interventions, is required to support most proposed changes to government regulations. The document outlines problems and options and asks for your input on the impacts of the options. Your feedback on the impact of options, including staying with the status quo, will contribute to the regulatory impact analysis that will help government decision-makers with their decisions.

There is also an appendix with the Code of Good Regulatory Practice. This is referred to in the discussion document.

A document providing a summary of submissions will be posted on the Ministry of Health website after the analysis has been completed.

Publication availability
This publication is available in Word and PDF format below:

Continuous Improvement in Health and Disability Services - A discussion paper on the review of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 (Word, 103 KB)
Continuous Improvement in Health and Disability Services - A discussion paper on the review of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 (PDF, 60 KB)

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Publishing information

Date of publication: 27 July 2007

ISBN number: Website 978-0-478-19175-2

HP number: 4446

Citation: Ministry of Health. 2007. Continuous Improvement in Health and Disability Services - A discussion paper on the review of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001. Wellington: Ministry of Health.

A discussion paper on the review of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001

Summary

The discussion document

The submission form

Regulatory impact analysis

Publication availability

Publishing information

Related information