Open disclosure is a patient right and is a process that involves open and honest communication when harm has occurred. From 30 November 2022, Statutory Duty of Candour will be a legal obligation for health services entities to apologise, discuss the facts, and describe the steps being taken to prevent re-occurrence when a patient has suffered a serious adverse patient safety event (SAPSE).
The important reforms arising from the Health Legislation Amendment (Quality and Safety) Act 2022 includes:
- appointment of a Chief Quality and Safety Officer (Professor Mike Roberts)
- provision of quality and safety reviews
- creation of a Statutory Duty of Candour (SDC) including protections for apologies
- introduction of protections for serious adverse patient safety event (SAPSE) reviews
- amendment of the functions of the Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council (VPCC).
We have partnered with Liberate Learning to develop 3 eLearning modules to assist clinicians in understanding what their role might be in some of these important reforms.
- Statutory Duty of Candour
- SAPSE reviews including protections
- Introduction to open disclosure
There will be a bonus fourth video module on Statutory Duty of Candour perspectives from the view of clinicians, consumers and a lawyer coming soon.