Published on 30 November 2022

This Memorandum is applicable to all staff who provide clinical care.

 

Starting today Wednesday 30 November Western Health is subject to a Statutory Duty of Candour (SDC) under The Health Legislation Amendment (Quality and Safety Act) 2022.

 

This legislation requires health services to

  1. apologise to patients and their families or carers when a patient experiences moderate or severe harm while receiving care
  2. explain what went wrong, and
  3. describe what action will be taken and subsequent improvements put in place.

 

This legislation is now in effect and we encourage all clinical staff to complete the WeLearn module to understand their obligations.

 

Other key dates in the legislation are:

  1. January 2023: voluntary/optional reporting of compliance with SDC legislation commences, and;
  2. July 2023: mandatory reporting commences.

 

Western Health will continue to refine workflows and processes over the coming weeks and months to support clinical staff in understanding and meeting their obligations under this new legislation.

 

To learn more about the SDC processes, access the WeLearn portal or Safer Care Victoria website

 

Please do not hesitate to contact Allison Lamb allison.lamb@wh.org.au should you have any questions.

 

Kind regards,

 

David Smallwood – Deputy Chief Medical Officer

Shane Crowe – Executive Director, Nursing & Midwifery

Allison Lamb – Project Lead – Statutory Duty of Candour