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Queensland Health Clinical Governance Policy

Queensland Health has embarked on a major strengthening of its Clinical Governance Framework. The Clinical Governance Framework is the web of policies, processes and accountabilities which are directed at improving patient safety and the quality and effectiveness of Queensland Health services.

The Clinical Governance Framework is based on a set of principles:

Line management responsibility for patient safety and quality;
Clinician and patient involvement;
A just and open approach for managing adverse events;
Responsibilities articulated for all levels of Queensland Health;
Measurement of outcomes and performances;
Transparency and accountability;
An emphasis on the need for Queensland Health to improve its performance in patient safety, quality and effectiveness; and
Performance Appraisal Policy.

There are a number of key Policies and Implementation Standards which are core to the Clinical Governance Framework. These include:

The Clinical Governance Policy and associated Implementation Standards relating to

             - Roles and Responsibilities.
             - Clinical Governance Operational Plans.
             - Patient Satisfaction Survey.
             - Variable Life-Adjusted Display.

Consumer Complaints Policy and associated Implementation Standard.
Clinical Incident Management Policy and associated Implementation Standard.

Responsibility for implementation of the Clinical Governance Framework is shared across Queensland Health, particularly including service delivery units, but policy development is principally the responsibility of the Reform and Development Division. Strategic plans for several constituent units of the Reform and Development Division are relevant to the safety and quality agenda. These include:

Queensland Health's Safety and Quality activities are overseen by a Patient Safety and Quality Board. Further information on safety and quality activities in Queensland Health can be obtained from Dr Stephen Duckett, Executive Director, Reform and Development Division.

A copy of a recent paper by Dr Stephen Duckett, on the Queensland Health Clinical Governance Framework can be downloaded here.

Last Updated: 20 June 2008
Last Reviewed: 31 May 2007

Queensland Health Quality and Safety Program

Queensland Health Clinical Governance Policy