Public Health (Infection Control) Amendment Bill 2017 (Qld)

An Act to amend the Public Health Act 2005 for particular purposes The Parliament of Queensland enacts—

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Public Health (Infection Control) Amendment Act 2017.

2 Commencement This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

3 Act amended This Act amends the Public Health Act 2005.

4 Amendment of s 61A (Definitions for chapter) Section 61A, definition health service chief executive— omit.

5 Replacement of ch 4, pt 2 (Obligations to minimise infection risks for declared health services) Chapter 4, part 2— omit, insert—

Part 2 General obligation to minimise infection risks for declared health services

151 Obligation to minimise risk of infection A person involved in the provision of a declared health service must take reasonable precautions and care to minimise the risk of infection to other persons. Examples of a person involved in the provision of a declared health service— 1 a registered nurse collecting blood for a blood bank 2 the medical superintendent or director of nursing of a public sector hospital 3 the owner of a dental practice that employs dentists, on a permanent or casual basis 4 the owner of a business that operates a first aid room for its employees Example of how a person might take reasonable precautions and care— The person complies with the ICMP for the health care facility at which the declared health service is provided and with any measures prescribed under section 461(2)(a) about preventing and controlling the spread of infectious conditions in providing the declared health service Maximum penalty—1000 penalty units.

6 Amendment of s 153 (Obligation of owner for ICMP) Section 153(2)— omit, insert— (2) The owner must ensure— (a) there is an ICMP for the health care facility that complies with section 155(1) and includes the matters prescribed under section 155(2); and (b) declared health services provided at the health care facility are provided in compliance with the ICMP; and (c) the operator reviews the effectiveness and implementation of the ICMP at intervals of not more than 1 year. Maximum penalty—500 penalty units.