Closed: 8 February 2017
In 2016, a Senate inquiry was conducted into the medical complaints process in Australia, focused on the prevalence, reporting and processing of bullying and harassment complaints in the medical profession. During the consultation a number of concerns were raised regarding administration and implementation of the complaints process. The Senate Committee recommended that a new inquiry be established to focus on the process itself, rather than the ways in which the process can be used and misused.
The focus of the current inquiry:
The Senate Community Affairs References Committee (the Committee) have announced a new inquiry looking into the complaints mechanism administered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. The inquiry will address the following matters:
- the implementation of the current complaints system under the National Law, including the role of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) and the National Boards;
- whether the existing regulatory framework, established by the National Law, contains adequate provision for addressing medical complaints;
- the roles of AHPRA, the National Boards and professional organisations, such as the various Colleges, in addressing concerns within the medical profession with the complaints process;
- the adequacy of the relationships between those bodies responsible for handling complaints;
- whether amendments to the National Law, in relation to the complaints handling process, are required; and
- other improvements that could assist in a fairer, quicker and more effective medical complaints process.
The new inquiry focusses on the complaints mechanism more broadly - including how patient complaints are managed.
The RACGP sought feedback from members with experience surrounding the complaints mechanism and processes, particularly regarding the matters identified by the Committee above. The feedback and suggestions will help to inform the RACGP submission to the Committee’s inquiry.