Patient access to care
Directive number: QH-HSD-025:2015
Effective date: 01 October 2021
Review date: 01 October 2024
Supersedes: Version 3.0
On this page:
- Purpose
- Scope
- Principles
- Outcomes
- Mandatory requirements
- Related or governing legislation, policy and agreements
- Supporting documents
- Business area contact
- Review
- Approval and implementation
- Version control
Purpose
This Health Service Directive directs Hospital and Health Services to be consistent in their approach to managing patient access and flow, and to facilitate timely access into and through all Queensland public hospitals.
Scope
This directive applies to all Hospital and Health Services (HHSs).
Principles
- As per the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011, the best interests of users of public sector health services should be the main consideration in all decisions and actions.
- Access—optimise patient flow and access across the patient journey from pre- hospital arrival, through to admission and discharge.
- Integration—whole of system approach to equitable patient flow and access.
- Safety—optimise patient safety, quality of clinical care and outcomes.
- Effectiveness—achieve effective outcomes with efficient use of resources.
- Collaboration—support collaboration and interface between HHSs the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), and other partners in health service delivery.
Outcomes
HHSs will achieve the following outcomes:
- Patients who access public health services, who present for treatment, admission or inter-hospital transfer will receive timely and optimal care based on their presenting condition.
Mandatory requirements
HHSs will ensure the following:
- That all patients have access to emergency care.
- Patients are seen and treated in a timely manner according to their clinical urgency This applies to presentations to Emergency Departments, bookings for elective surgery and other elective procedures, outpatient and oral health appointments as well as other clinical assessments.
- Where care is transferred, for example between QAS and an Emergency Department, a safe, effective, and timely clinical handover between all parties occurs as per National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
- HHSs will comply with the following Protocols:
- Protocol for Timely Transfer of Care in Emergency Departments
- Protocol for Management of Inter-Hospital Transfers
- Protocol for Managing Capacity of Queensland Public Hospitals
Related or governing legislation, policy, and agreements
- Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011
Supporting documents
- Protocol for timely transfer of care in emergency departments
- Protocol for management of inter-hospital transfers
- Protocol for managing capacity of Queensland public hospitals
- Metropolitan emergency department access initiative ambulance ramping report 2012
Business area contact
Healthcare Improvement Unit, Clinical Excellence Queensland
Review
This Health Service Directive will be reviewed at least every three years.
Date of last review: 16/12/2019
Supersedes: Version 3.0
Approval and implementation
Directive Custodian: Deputy Director-General, Clinical Excellence Queensland
Approval by Chief Executive: Director-General Queensland Health
Approval date: 23 September 2021
Effective from: 01 October 2021
Issued under section 47 of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011
Version control
| Version | Date | Prepared by | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 18/12/2012 | Clinical Access & Redesign Unit | Patient Access and Flow Health Service Directive Developed. |
| 2.0 | 06/08/2015 | Healthcare Improvement Unit | Patient Centred Emergency Care Health Service Directive updated. |
| 3.0 | 16/12/2019 | Healthcare Improvement Unit | Updates approved through the Patient Access Advisory Committee. |
| 4.0 | 23/09/2021 | Healthcare Improvement Unit | Updates approved by the Director-General. |