New South Wales Consolidated Acts

HEALTH SERVICES ACT 1997

- As at 1 July 2024 
- Act 154 of 1997 

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

CHAPTER 1 - PRELIMINARY
           Note

   1.      Name of Act
   2.      Commencement
   3.      Definitions
   4.      Objects of Act
   5.      Notes

CHAPTER 2 - STRUCTURE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM

   6.      What is the public health system?
   7.      What is a public health organisation?
   8.      What is a local health district?
   9.      Primary purposes of local health districts
   10.     Functions of local health districts
   11.     What is a statutory health corporation?
   12.     Functions of statutory health corporations
   13.     What is an affiliated health organisation?
   14.     Functions of affiliated health organisations
   15.     What is a public hospital?
   16.     (Repealed)

CHAPTER 3 - LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICTS

   PART 1 - CONSTITUTION OF LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICTS

   17.     Constitution of local health districts
   18.     Areas in respect of which local health districts constituted
   19.     Amendment of Schedule 1 (Names and areas of local health districts)
   20.     Dissolution, amalgamation or change of name of local health districts
   21.     Consequential and transitional provisions on the making of orders
   22.     Provisions relating to the corporate nature of local health districts

   PART 2 - CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICTS

           Division 1 - The chief executive

   23.     Appointment of chief executive
   24.     Chief executive to manage and control affairs of local health district
   25.     Functions of chief executive generally

           Division 2 - Local health district boards

   26.     Constitution of local health district boards
   27.     (Repealed)
   28.     Functions of local health district boards
   29.     Removal of members of local health district board and appointment of administrator
   29A.    (Repealed)

           Division 3 - Other committees and councils

   29B.    Other committees and councils

   PART 3 - FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICTS

   30.     Combined management or assistance in management of public hospitals, health institutions, health services or health support services
   31.     Opening and closing of hospitals, health institutions, health services or health support services
   32.     Determination of role, functions and activities of local health districts
   33.     (Repealed)
   34.     Powers in relation to property
   35.     Application of Public Works Act 1912
   36.     Power to accept property by gifts, devises and bequests
   37.     Contracts of local health district
   38.     Investments
   39.     Local health district by-laws
   40.     Delegations by local health district

CHAPTER 4 - STATUTORY HEALTH CORPORATIONS

   PART 1 - CONSTITUTION OF STATUTORY HEALTH CORPORATIONS

   41.     Constitution of statutory health corporations
   42.     Amendment of Schedule 2 (Statutory health corporations)
   43.     Dissolution, transfer, amalgamation or change of name or nature of governance of statutory health corporations
   44.     Consequential and transitional provisions on the making of orders
   45.     Provisions relating to the corporate nature of statutory health corporations

   PART 2 - CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF STATUTORY HEALTH CORPORATIONS

           Division 1 - Board governed health corporations

   46.     Constitution of health corporation boards
   47.     Health corporation board to control affairs of board governed health corporation
   48.     Health corporation board subject to control and direction of Minister
   49.     Membership of health corporation board
   50.     Provisions relating to members and procedure of boards
   51.     Appointment of chief executive of board governed health corporation
   52.     Removal of members and appointment of administrator

           Division 2 - Chief executive governed health corporations

   52A.    Appointment of chief executive of chief executive governed health corporation
   52B.    Chief executive to manage and control affairs of chief executive governed health corporation
   52C.    Functions of chief executive generally
   52D.    Advisory councils
   52E.    Other committees and councils

           Division 3 - Specialty network governed health corporations

   52F.    Boards of specialty network governed health corporations
   52G.    Appointment of chief executive of specialty network governed health corporations

   PART 3 - FUNCTIONS OF STATUTORY HEALTH CORPORATIONS

   53A.    Combined management or assistance in management of public hospitals, health institutions, health services or health support services
   53.     Determination of functions of statutory health corporations
   54.     Other committees and councils
   55.     Powers in relation to property
   56.     Application of Public Works Act 1912
   57.     Power to accept property by gifts, devises and bequests
   58.     Contracts of statutory health corporations
   59.     Investments
   60.     Statutory health corporation by-laws
   61.     Delegations by statutory health corporations

CHAPTER 5 - AFFILIATED HEALTH ORGANISATIONS

   62.     Recognition of affiliated health organisations
   62A.    Declared affiliated health organisations
   62B.    Recognition of networked affiliated health organisations
   63.     Affiliated health organisations may make by-laws
   63A.    Criminal and disciplinary matters concerning employees of non-declared affiliated health organisations
   64.     Transfer of recognised establishments and recognised services of affiliated health organisations
   64A.    Regulations relating to movement of staff between NSW Health Service and non-declared affiliated health organisations
   65.     Minister may determine role, functions and activities of affiliated health organisations
   66.     Appointment of chief executives of public hospitals and health services of affiliated health organisations
   67.     Liability of affiliated health organisations in relation to recognised establishments and recognised services

CHAPTER 5A - AMBULANCE SERVICES

   PART 1 - PRELIMINARY

   67AA.   Definitions

   PART 2 - PROVISION OF AMBULANCE SERVICES

   67AB.   Appointed body
   67A.    Ambulance Service of NSW
   67B.    Provision etc of ambulance services
   67C.    Ambulance Service Advisory Board
   67D.    (Repealed)
   67E.    Unauthorised provision of ambulance transport
   67F.    Unauthorised collections
   67G.    False calls for provision of ambulance services
   67H.    Honorary ambulance officers
   67I.    Exculpation from personal liability
   67J.    (Repealed)

   PART 3 - FEES FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES

   67K.    Health Secretary may charge fee for ambulance services
   67L.    Scale of fees
   67M.    Who is liable for payment of ambulance fee
   67N.    Exemptions
   67O.    Payment rules

   PART 4 - HOW AMBULANCE FEES ARE CHARGED

   67P.    How fee is charged--fee invoices
   67Q.    Debt notice may be issued if fee not paid
   67R.    Required information about fee reviews
   67S.    Due date for payment of ambulance fee
   67T.    Change of payment arrangements

   PART 5 - RECOVERY OF AMBULANCE FEES

   67U.    Ambulance fee is debt payable to Health Secretary
   67V.    (Repealed)
   67W.    Information to be provided if debt is referred to Chief Commissioner
   67X.    Suspension of debt recovery action

   PART 6 - FEE REVIEWS

   67Y.    Application for review of ambulance fee
   67Z.    Review by Health Secretary
   67ZA.   Extension of time to pay--on-time review application
   67ZB.   Request for additional information
   67ZC.   Actions to be taken after review
   67ZD.   Notice of outcome of application

   PART 6A - (Repealed)
   None

   PART 7 - MISCELLANEOUS

   67ZE.   Unpaid fees may be written off
   67ZF.   Service of notices
   67ZG.   Form of notices given to Chief Commissioner

CHAPTER 6 - MEDICARE PRINCIPLES AND COMMITMENTS
           Note

   68.     Medicare Principles and Commitments

CHAPTER 7 - CHARGES FOR HEALTH SERVICES
           Note

   69.     Scale of fees
   70.     Liability of persons for health service fees
   71.     Care and treatment to be provided to persons without means
   72.     Cost of relief granted to injured persons to be a charge on damages
   73.     Order not to be made in certain circumstances
   74.     Fees for medical attendance
   75.     Hospital and other health services provided by Crown

CHAPTER 8 - VISITING PRACTITIONERS
           Note

   PART 1 - CLASSIFICATION OF VISITING PRACTITIONERS

   76.     Who is a visiting practitioner?
   77.     What are the kinds of visiting practitioners?
   78.     Who is a visiting medical officer?
   79.     Who is an honorary medical officer?

   PART 2 - SERVICE CONTRACTS

           Division 1 - Classification of service contracts

   80.     What is a service contract?
   81.     What are the kinds of service contracts?
   82.     What is a fee-for-service contract?
   83.     What is a sessional contract?
   84.     What is an honorary contract?

           Division 2 - Entry into service contracts

   85.     When can medical practitioners elect to provide their services through their practice companies?
   86.     Service contracts to be in writing
   87.     Minister may approve of standard conditions for service contracts
   88.     Standard service contracts to be used

           Division 3 - Arbitrations concerning certain service contracts in the public health system generally

   89.     Application for appointment of arbitrator
   90.     Appointment of arbitrator by relevant Minister
   91.     Nature of determination
   92.     Manner of exercise of arbitrator's functions
   93.     Rights of appearance, administration of oaths, legal representation
   94.     Conduct of proceedings and protection of arbitrator
   95.     Notification of determination and finality of determination
   96.     Appeal to Full Bench of the Industrial Relations Commission
   97.     Interpretation of determination
   98.     Determination contractually binding

   PART 3 - CRIMINAL AND DISCIPLINARY MATTERS CONCERNING VISITING PRACTITIONERS

   99.     Duty to report certain criminal and disciplinary matters
   99A.    Duty of chief executive to report certain conduct of visiting practitioner
   100.    Termination of appointments in certain cases of serious sex or violence offences
   101.    Protection of patients, clients and children to be paramount consideration
   102.    No compensation for termination of appointment
   103.    Appeal rights
   104.    Effect of Part on other rights

   PART 4 - APPEALS CONCERNING APPOINTMENT DECISIONS

   105.    Public health organisation to notify visiting practitioners of certain decisions
   106.    Right of appeal to Minister
   107.    Notice of appeal to Minister
   108.    Constitution of Committee of Review
   109.    Date and place of hearing
   110.    Right of appearance
   111.    Powers of and procedure before a Committee
   112.    Determination of appeal
   113.    Effect and implementation of order

   PART 5 - EFFECT OF ACT ON AGREEMENTS WITH VISITING PRACTITIONERS

   114.    Application of Act to agreements with visiting practitioners

CHAPTER 9 - THE NSW HEALTH SERVICE

   PART 1 - EMPLOYMENT OF STAFF IN THE NSW HEALTH SERVICE

   115.    The NSW Health Service
   116.    Employment of staff generally
   116A.   Salary, conditions etc of staff employed in the NSW Health Service (other than senior executives)
   116B.   Special provisions relating to staff employed in connection with declared affiliated health organisations
   116C.   Transfer of staff within the NSW Health Service on ground of redundancy
   116D.   Health Secretary may arrange for use of services or facilities outside of NSW Health Service
   116E.   Obligations of declared affiliated health organisations under certain legislation
   116F.   Operation of privacy legislation
   116G.   Miscellaneous provisions relating to civil liability
   116H.   Role of Health Secretary in industrial proceedings

   PART 2 - CRIMINAL AND DISCIPLINARY MATTERS CONCERNING STAFF OF NSW HEALTH SERVICE

   117AA.  Definitions
   117.    Duty to report certain criminal conduct and disciplinary matters
   117A.   Duty of chief executive to report certain conduct
   118.    Disciplinary action in certain cases of serious sex or violence offences
   119.    Protection of patients, clients and children to be paramount consideration
   120.    No compensation for termination of employment
   120A.   Suspension of members of staff from duty pending decision in relation to misconduct or serious criminal charge
   121.    Effect of Part

   PART 3 - NSW HEALTH SERVICE SENIOR EXECUTIVES

   121A.   NSW Health Service senior executives
   121B.   Employer of senior executives
   121C.   Kinds of employment
   121D.   Employment in bands and assignment to roles
   121E.   Government sector employment rules and employment directions and conditions
   121F.   Contract of employment
   121G.   Remuneration, benefits and allowances
   121H.   Termination of employment
   121I.   Acting in executive roles
   121J.   Industrial or legal proceedings excluded
   121K.   Delegation of employer functions
           121L-121T.

CHAPTER 10 - ADMINISTRATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM
           Note

   PART 1 - ADMINISTRATION

   122.    Functions of the Health Secretary
   123.    Inquiries by Health Secretary
   124.    Authorised officers
   125.    Powers of entry and inspection
   126.    Health Secretary may enter into performance agreement with a public health organisation
   126AA.  Provision or disclosure of information

   PART 1A - PROVISION OF SERVICES

   126A.   (Repealed)
   126B.   Health Secretary to provide certain services
   126C.   Appointed bodies
           126D-126F. (Repealed)
   126G.   Directions by Minister in relation to acquisition of services
   126H.   Consent of affiliated health organisations required for certain orders

   PART 2 - FINANCE

   126I.   Health funding arrangements under the National Health Reform Agreement
   127.    Determination of subsidies
   127A.   Deferral of payment of subsidy
   127B.   Loans to public health organisations
   128.    Agreement by affiliated health organisation to repay sums
   129.    Funding of recognised establishments and recognised services of affiliated health organisations
   130.    Performance agreements between local health districts and affiliated health organisations they subsidise

   PART 3 - TRANSFER OF HOSPITALS, HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, SERVICES AND PROPERTY

   131.    Transfer of hospitals, health institutions, services and property between statutory health organisations
   132.    Consequential and transitional provisions on the making of orders

CHAPTER 11 - MISCELLANEOUS
           Note

   133.    Establishment of Samaritan Funds
   133A.   Nature of staffing arrangements
   133B.   Personal liability of members of boards of statutory health organisations
   133C.   Sharing or exchange of information about health practitioner appointments
   133D.   Consolidation of annual reporting information for NSW Health entities
   134.    Obstructing or hindering Minister, Health Secretary, authorised officer or other public official
   135.    Authentication of certain documents
   136.    Proof of certain matters not required
   137.    Proceedings for offences
   138.    (Repealed)
   139.    Liability of persons conducting performance reviews etc
   139A.   Liability of certain persons assisting in the exercise of functions under Guardianship Act 1987 and Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
   140.    Regulations
   141.    Savings and transitional provisions
   142.    Review of Act
           SCHEDULE 1
           SCHEDULE 2
           SCHEDULE 3
           SCHEDULE 4
           SCHEDULE 4A
           SCHEDULE 5
           SCHEDULE 6
           SCHEDULE 6A
           SCHEDULE 7
           SCHEDULE 8
           Schedule 9 (Repealed)
           Dictionary