Health Services Act 1997 (NSW)

Health Services Act 1997 No 154

An Act to regulate the public health system of New South Wales; to repeal the Area Health Services Act 1986 and the Public Hospitals Act 1929; to amend various other Acts; and for other purposes.

Chapter 1 Preliminary

Introduction. This Chapter contains provisions that are helpful in understanding the Act as a whole. It also contains some machinery provisions.

1 Name of Act This Act is the Health Services Act 1997.

2 Commencement This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation.

3 Definitions Expressions used in this Act (or in a particular provision of this Act) that are defined in the Dictionary at the end of the Act have the meanings set out in the Dictionary.

Note. Expressions used in this Act (or a particular provision of this Act) that are defined in the Interpretation Act 1987 have the meanings set out in that Act.

4 Objects of Act The objects of this Act are— (a) to establish a system of local health districts for the whole of the State to deliver health services and to enable their recognition as health networks for the purposes of the National Health Reform Agreement, and (b) to constitute statutory health corporations to deliver health services and health support services other than on the basis of a specified area, and (c) to recognise as affiliated health organisations certain non-government institutions and organisations that provide health services and health support services within the State that contribute significantly to the public health system, and (c1) to enable the recognition of some statutory health corporations and affiliated health organisations as health networks for the purposes of the National Health Reform Agreement, and (d) to re-affirm the adoption of the Medicare Principles and Commitments as guidelines for the delivery of public hospital services (within the meaning of section 23E of the Health Insurance Act 1973 of the Commonwealth) and to facilitate the collection of fees from patients of public health organisations in respect of services received by them that are not required to be provided free of charge under the Medicare Agreement, and (e) to regulate the conditions of contracts of visiting medical officers appointed by public health organisations, and (f) to facilitate transfers of staff within the public health system and to avoid unnecessary staff redundancies, and (g) to require visiting practitioners and staff in the public health system to disclose any charge or conviction for a serious sex or violence offence or of a misconduct finding (such as findings of professional misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct), and (h) to specify the action that may be taken in relation to convictions for serious sex or violence offences committed by visiting practitioners or staff in the public health system, and (i) to make provision for the funding of public health organisations, and (j) to facilitate the efficient and effective administration of the public health system generally by providing mechanisms for such matters as inquiries, inspections and transfers of resources.