Queensland Consolidated Regulations

HOSPITAL AND HEALTH BOARDS REGULATION 2023 - REG 19

19 Prescribed requirements for consumer and community engagement strategies

For section 40 (3) (a) of the Act , a consumer and community engagement strategy of a Service must—

(a) include the following—

(i) the objectives of the strategy;

(ii) how the strategy will contribute to the achievement of the organisational objectives of the Service;

(iii) the methods to be used for carrying out consultation with consumers and members of the community, including at individual, service and Hospital and Health Service level, and with any ancillary board established for the Service’s board;

(iv) the key issues on which consultation with consumers, members of the community and any ancillary board established for the Service’s board will be carried out;

Examples of key issues for subparagraph (iv)—

• service planning and design for the Service

• service delivery by the Service

• monitoring and evaluation of service delivery by the Service

(v) how the Service will actively identify and consult with particular consumers and members of the community who are at risk of experiencing poor health outcomes or who may have difficulty accessing health services;

Example for subparagraph (v)—

The Service may involve providers of community services as part of the consultation arrangements stated in the strategy.

(vi) how the Service will use information obtained from implementing the strategy to continuously improve consultation with consumers and the community under the strategy;

(vii) how the effectiveness of the consumer and communities engagement strategy will be measured and publicly reported; and

(b) have regard to national and State strategies, policies, agreements and standards relevant to promoting consultation with health consumers and members of the community about the provision of health services by the Service; and

Examples of policies and standards—

• the document called ‘Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights’ published by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

• the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, 2nd edition, formulated by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

(c) outline the relationship between the Service’s consumer and community engagement strategy and its clinician engagement strategy, health equity strategy and protocol with local primary healthcare organisations; and

(d) require a summary of the key issues discussed and decisions made in each of the Service’s board meetings to be made available to consumers and the community, subject to the board’s obligations relating to confidentiality and privacy.