HEALTH SERVICES ACT 1997

New South Wales Consolidated Acts

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HEALTH SERVICES ACT 1997 - NOTES

- As at 1 September 2009 - Act 154 of 1997

Note to Chapter 1

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

Note to Chapter 6

In this Chapter, the Medicare Principles and Commitments set out in section 26 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 of the Commonwealth are readopted as guidelines for the provision of public hospital services within the meaning of section 23E of that Act. They had previously been adopted in Part 4 of the Health Administration Act 1982, which was repealed by this Act. The Commonwealth Act makes the adoption by the State of the Principles and Commitments a condition of the grant of financial assistance by the Commonwealth to the State in respect of the provision of public hospital services.

Note to Chapter 7

This Chapter makes provision for the charging and collection of fees from certain patients and other clients of public health organisations.

Note to Chapter 8

In this Chapter, Part 1 defines a visiting practitioner to be a medical practitioner or dentist appointed by a public health organisation (otherwise than as an employee) to practise as a medical practitioner or dentist at its hospitals or health institutions or in relation to its health services (as specified in the appointment). It also makes it clear that a visiting medical officer and an honorary medical officer are visiting practitioners appointed under a service contract with a public health organisation.
Part 2 explains, and provides for the prerequisites for the entry into, service contracts. It also enables the relevant Minister, on application from the Australian Medical Association (NSW) Limited or the Minister (or both), to appoint an arbitrator to determine certain matters involving fee-for-service contracts or sessional contracts of visiting medical officers (or both) throughout the public health system generally.
Part 3 requires visiting practitioners to report to the public health organisation that appointed them the fact that they have been charged with committing, or have been convicted of, a serious sex or violence offence or have had a finding of professional misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct made against them under the Medical Practice Act 1992 or the Dentists Act 1989. A public health organisation must terminate the appointment of a visiting practitioner convicted of a serious sex or violence offence if the Director-General so directs. A public health organisation cannot terminate the appointment of a visiting practitioner of its own motion under the Part unless the Director-General has confirmed the organisation’s proposal to terminate the appointment. These provisions mirror those provided in Part 2 of Chapter 9 for employees in the NSW Health Service.
Part 4 enables individual visiting practitioners to appeal to the Minister (who must then appoint a Committee of Review) concerning decisions of public health organisations to reduce their clinical privileges, to refuse to re-appoint them or to suspend or terminate their appointments under service contracts.
Part 5 makes it clear that any agreement between a public health organisation and a visiting practitioner relating to the performance of work is not affected by this Act except as provided by Parts 2, 3 and 4 of this Chapter.

Note to Chapter 11

This Chapter contains various provisions relating to the general operation of the Act.
For instance, it provides for an offence of obstructing or hindering the performance of functions under the Act and facilitates the proof of certain matters in legal proceedings. A general regulation-making power is also provided.
Public health organisations are also authorised to retain and realise certain unclaimed assets of former or deceased patients that have been left at their premises, the proceeds of which are to be used to establish Samaritan Funds for the benefit of needy patients of the organisation.
The Chapter also repeals the Area Health Services Act 1986 and the Public Hospitals Act 1929.

Does not include amendments by:

Private Health Facilities Act 2007 No 9 (not commenced)

Reprint history:

Reprint No 1   13 June 2000
Reprint No 2   2 December 2003
Reprint No 3   1 February 2005
Reprint No 4   18 April 2006

Historical notes

The following abbreviations are used in the Historical notes:

Am	amended	LW	legislation website	Sch	Schedule
Cl	clause	No	number	Schs	Schedules
Cll	clauses	p	page	Sec	section
Div	Division	pp	pages	Secs	sections
Divs	Divisions	Reg	Regulation	Subdiv	Subdivision
GG	Government Gazette	Regs	Regulations	Subdivs	Subdivisions
Ins	inserted	Rep	repealed	Subst	substituted

Table of amending instruments

Health Services Act 1997 No 154. Assented to 19.12.1997. Date of commencement, 1.7.1998, sec 2 and GG No 97 of 26.6.1998, p 4423. This Act has been amended as follows:

1998	No 54	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1998. Assented to 30.6.1998. Date of commencement of Sch 1.10, assent, sec 2 (2).
	No 120	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 1998. Assented to 26.11.1998. Date of commencement of Sch 1.21, assent, sec 2 (2).
1999	No 76	Health Legislation Amendment Act 1999. Assented to 3.12.1999. Date of commencement, 14.1.2000, sec 2 and GG No 3 of 14.1.2000, p 167.
	No 85	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 1999. Assented to 3.12.1999. Date of commencement of Sch 2.28, assent, sec 2 (2); date of commencement of Sch 4, assent, sec 2 (1).
	No 94	Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sentencing) Act 1999. Assented to 8.12.1999. Date of commencement of Sch 4.114, 1.1.2000, sec 2 (1) and GG No 144 of 24.12.1999, p 12184.
2000	No 53	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2000. Assented to 29.6.2000. Date of commencement of Sch 1.10, assent, sec 2 (2).
2001	No 56	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001. Assented to 17.7.2001. Date of commencement of Sch 2.21, assent, sec 2 (2).
2003	No 45	Nurses Amendment Act 2003. Assented to 30.9.2003. Date of commencement of Sch 2.6, 1.8.2004, sec 2 (1) and GG No 126 of 30.7.2004, p 6114.
	No 52	Health Legislation Amendment Act 2003. Assented to 23.10.2003. Date of commencement, 1.2.2004, sec 2 and GG No 12 of 16.1.2004, p 164.
2004	No 87	Health Legislation Further Amendment Act 2004. Assented to 30.11.2004. Date of commencement, 1.1.2005, sec 2 and GG No 200 of 17.12.2004, p 9305.
	No 92	Health Services Amendment Act 2004. Assented to 10.12.2004. Date of commencement of Sch 1, except Sch 1 [2] to the extent to which it inserts Div 2 of Part 2 of Chapter 3, 1.1.2005, sec 2 and GG No 200 of 17.12.2004, p 9306; date of commencement of Sch 1 [2] to the extent to which it inserts Div 2 of Part 2 of Chapter 3, 8.4.2005, sec 2 and GG No 42 of 8.4.2005, p 1241.
	No 98	Health Legislation Amendment (Complaints) Act 2004. Assented to 15.12.2004. Date of commencement of Sch 4.3, 1.8.2005, sec 2 and GG No 94 of 29.7.2005, p 3910.
2005	(294)	Health Services Amendment (St John of God Health Care System Inc) Order 2005. GG No 78 of 29.6.2005, p 3198. Date of commencement, 1.7.2005, cl 2.
	No 64	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2005. Assented to 1.7.2005. Date of commencement of Sch 2.21, assent, sec 2 (2).
	No 98	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2005. Assented to 24.11.2005. Date of commencement of Schs 2.29 and 3, assent, sec 2 (2).
2006	No 2	Public Sector Employment Legislation Amendment Act 2006. Assented to 13.3.2006. Date of commencement, 17.3.2006, sec 2 and GG No 35 of 17.3.2006, p 1378.
	No 30	Legal Profession Amendment Act 2006. Assented to 26.5.2006. Date of commencement of Sch 9, 2.6.2006, sec 2 and GG No 72 of 2.6.2006, p 3730.
	No 59	Pharmacy Practice Act 2006. Assented to 7.9.2006. Date of commencement of Sch 7.7, 25.2.2008, sec 2 (1) and GG No 21 of 22.2.2008, p 1038.
	No 94	Police Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2006. Assented to 22.11.2006. Date of commencement of Sch 3.16, 1.2.2007, sec 2 and GG No 22 of 1.2.2007, p 575.
2007	(312)	Health Services Amendment (Calvary Mater Newcastle) Order 2007. GG No 83 of 29.6.2007, p 4163. Date of commencement, 1.7.2007, cl 2.
	No 89	Health Legislation Amendment Act 2007. Assented to 13.12.2007. Date of commencement of Sch 2.5, assent, sec 2 (1).
	No 94	Miscellaneous Acts (Local Court) Amendment Act 2007. Assented to 13.12.2007. Date of commencement of Sch 4, 6.7.2009, sec 2 and 2009 (314) LW 3.7.2009.
2008	No 62	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008. Assented to 1.7.2008. Date of commencement of Sch 2.26, assent, sec 2 (2).
	(625)	Health Services Amendment (Stewart House) Order 2008. GG No 158 of 19.12.2008, p 12579. Date of commencement of Sch 1, 1.1.2009, cl 2 (2).
2009	No 15	Health Legislation Amendment Act 2009. Assented to 13.5.2009. Date of commencement of Sch 1.4, assent, sec 2 (1).
	(243)	Health Services Amendment (Dissolution of HealthQuest) Order 2009. GG No 89 of 17.6.2009, p 3071. Date of commencement, 1.7.2009, cl 2.
	(300)	Health Services Amendment (Albury Base Hospital) Order 2009. GG No 93 of 26.6.2009, p 3584. Date of commencement of cl 3, 30.6.2009, cl 2 (1); date of commencement of cl 5, 1.7.2009, cl 2 (2).
	No 56	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Assented to 1.7.2009. Date of commencement of Sch 4, 17.7.2009, sec 2 (1).
	(309)	Health Services Amendment (STARTTS) Order 2009. GG No 98 of 1.7.2009, p 3853. Date of commencement, on gazettal, cl 2.
	(440)	Health Services Amendment (Bureau of Health Information) Order 2009. LW 28.8.2009. Date of commencement, 1.9.2009, cl 2.

Amendments made to this Act prior to 1.4.2005, by orders made under secs 19 (1), 20 (1), 42, 43 (1) and 62 (2), are listed only in the Table of amendments.

Table of amendments

Sec 4	Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [1] [2].
Sec 5	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [2].
Chapter 2, introduction	Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [3].
Sec 6	Am 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [1]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [4].
Sec 10	Am 2001 No 56, Sch 2.21.
Sec 16	Am 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [2]; 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [1]. Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [5].
Chapter 3, introduction	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [4] [5]. Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [3].
Secs 19, 20	Am 2009 No 56, Sch 4.27.
Sec 22	Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [6].
Chapter 3, Part 2	Subst 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [2].
Chapter 3, Part 2, Div 1, heading	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [2].
Sec 23	Subst 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [2]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [7] [8].
Secs 24, 25	Subst 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [2].
Chapter 3, Part 2, Div 2, heading	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [2].
Secs 26-29	Subst 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [2].
Sec 29A	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [2].
Chapter 3, Part 2, Div 3 (sec 29B)	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [2].
Sec 31	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [3] [4].
Sec 32	Subst 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [5].
Sec 33	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [6]. Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [9].
Sec 37	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [6].
Sec 39	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [7] [8]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [10].
Sec 40	Am 2004 No 92, Schs 1 [9], 2 [7]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [11] [12].
Chapter 4, introduction	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [8] [9]. Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [3].
Sec 41	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [10].
Sec 42	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [11] [12]; 2009 No 56, Sch 4.27.
Sec 43	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [10] [11]; 2009 No 56, Sch 4.27.
Sec 45	Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [13].
Chapter 4, Part 2, Div 1, heading	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [12].
Secs 46, 47	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [13].
Sec 49	Am 2003 No 52, Sch 1 [1]; 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [13]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [14]; 2009 No 15, Sch 1.4 [1].
Sec 51	Subst 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [13]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [15]; 2009 No 15, Sch 1.4 [2].
Sec 52	Am 2004 No 92, Schs 1 [14] [15], 2 [13] [14]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [16].
Chapter 4, Part 2, Div 2	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [16].
Sec 52A	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [16]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [17].
Secs 52B-52E	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [16].
Sec 53	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [17] [18].
Sec 54	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [15]. Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [18].
Sec 58	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [19] [20].
Sec 60	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [21]-[23]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [19].
Sec 61	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [24]-[26]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [20] [21].
Chapter 5, introduction	Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [3].
Sec 62	Am 2009 No 56, Sch 4.27.
Sec 62A	Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [22].
Sec 63	Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [23].
Sec 63A	Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [24].
Sec 64	Am 2009 No 56, Sch 4.27.
Sec 64A	Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [25].
Chapter 5A	Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [26].
Secs 67AA, 67AB	Ins 2007 No 89, Sch 2.5 [1].
Sec 67A	Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [26].
Sec 67B	Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [26]. Am 2007 No 89, Sch 2.5 [2].
Sec 67C	Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [26]. Am 2007 No 89, Sch 2.5 [3].
Secs 67D-67I	Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [26].
Chapter 8, introduction	Am 1999 No 85, Sch 2.28 [1]; 2000 No 53, Sch 1.10 [1].
Sec 85	Am 2003 No 52, Sch 1 [2].
Sec 89	Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.10 [2].
Sec 90	Am 1999 No 76, Sch 9 [1] [2].
Sec 91	Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.10 [3].
Sec 93	Am 2005 No 98, Sch 3.30 [1].
Sec 99	Am 1999 No 94, Sch 4.114.
Sec 99A	Ins 2004 No 98, Sch 4.3 [1]. Am 2005 No 98, Sch 2.29.
Sec 108	Am 1998 No 54, Sch 1.10 [1] [2]; 2006 No 30, Sch 9.6.
Sec 110	Am 2005 No 98, Sch 3.30 [1].
Sec 112	Am 2007 No 89, Sch 2.5 [4].
Chapter 9, introduction	Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [3].
Chapter 9, Part 1	Subst 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [27].
Sec 115	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [16]-[18]. Subst 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [27]. Am 2006 No 94, Sch 3.16 [1].
Sec 116	Am 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [3]-[5]. Subst 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [27].
Secs 116A-116G	Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [27].
Chapter 9, Part 2, heading	Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [28].
Sec 117AA	Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [29].
Sec 117	Am 1998 No 120, Sch 1.21 [1] [2]; 1999 No 94, Sch 4.114; 2003 No 45, Sch 2.6; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [30]-[34]; 2006 No 59, Sch 7.7.
Sec 117A	Ins 2004 No 98, Sch 4.3 [2]. Am 2005 No 98, Sch 2.29; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [35].
Sec 118	Subst 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [36].
Secs 119, 120	Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [34].
Sec 121	Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [34] [37] [38].
Chapter 9, Part 3	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Chapter 9, Part 3, Div 1	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Sec 121A	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [39].
Chapter 9, Part 3, Div 2	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Sec 121B	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [40] [41].
Chapter 9, Part 3, Div 3	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Sec 121C	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [39].
Sec 121D	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Secs 121E-121G	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [39].
Sec 121H	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Chapter 9, Part 3, Div 4	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Sec 121I	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [39] [42].
Sec 121J	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [39].
Sec 121K	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [39] [42].
Sec 121L	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [39].
Chapter 9, Part 3, Div 5	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Sec 121M	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [39] [42].
Sec 121N	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [39] [42] [43].
Sec 121O	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Chapter 9, Part 3, Div 6	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Sec 121P	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [39] [44]; 2006 No 94, Sch 3.16 [2].
Sec 121Q	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2005 No 64, Sch 1.21; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [45].
Sec 121R	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Sec 121S	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [39].
Sec 121T	Ins 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [27].
Chapter 10, introduction	Am 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [6]. Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [3].
Chapter 10, Part 1A	Ins 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [7].
Sec 126A	Ins 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [7]. Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [46].
Sec 126B	Ins 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [7]. Subst 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [47].
Sec 126C	Ins 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [7]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [42] [48].
Secs 126D-126F	Ins 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [7]. Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [49].
Sec 126G	Ins 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [7]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [42] [50].
Sec 126H	Ins 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [7]. Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [51].
Sec 127	Am 1999 No 76, Sch 9 [3]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [52].
Secs 127A, 127B	Ins 1999 No 76, Sch 9 [4].
Sec 131	Am 2009 No 56, Sch 4.27.
Sec 133A	Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [53].
Sec 137	Am 2007 No 94, Sch 4.
Sec 139	Rep 1999 No 85, Sch 4. Ins 2007 No 89, Sch 2.5 [5]. Am 2009 No 15, Sch 1.4 [3] [4].
Sec 140	Am 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [54].
Sch 1	Am GG No 81 of 30.6.2000, p 5798. Subst GG No 125 of 28.7.2004, p 6092. Am GG No 166 of 22.10.2004, p 8129; 2008 No 62, Sch 2.26.
Sch 2	Am GG No 81 of 30.6.2000, p 5798; GG No 188 of 7.12.2001, p 9618; GG No 49 of 21.2.2003, p 2272 (the order was not commenced and was repealed by GG No 104 of 27.6.2003, p 6351); GG No 104 of 27.6.2003, p 6348; GG No 109 of 30.6.2004, p 4868; GG No 135 of 20.8.2004, p 6629. Subst 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [28]. Am 2008 (625), Sch 1 [1]; 2009 (243), cl 4; 2009 (300), cll 3, 5; 2009 (440), cl 3.
Sch 3	Am GG No 97 of 26.6.1998, p 4864; 1998 No 54, Sch 1.10 [3]; GG No 75 of 30.6.1999, p 4577; GG No 84 of 23.7.1999, p 5150; GG No 127 of 17.8.2001, p 6034; GG No 149 of 20.9.2002, p 8215; GG No 170 of 11.10.2002, p 8711; GG No 104 of 27.6.2003, p 6349; GG No 178 of 7.11.2003, pp 10385, 10387, 10389; GG No 131 of 6.8.2004, pp 6348, 6349; 2005 (294), cl 3; 2007 (312), Sch 1 [1] [2]; 2008 (625), Sch 1 [2]; 2009 (309), cl 3.
Sch 4, heading	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [19].
Sch 4	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [20]-[28]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [55] [56].
Sch 5, heading	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [29].
Sch 5	Am 1998 No 54, Sch 1.10 [4]; 1999 No 94, Sch 4.114; 2003 No 52, Sch 1 [3] [4]; 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [30]-[41]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [57]-[61].
Sch 6	Rep 1999 No 85, Sch 4. Ins 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [62].
Sch 7	Am 1998 No 54, Sch 1.10 [5]; 1999 No 76, Sch 9 [5] [6]; 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [8]; 2004 No 92, Sch 1 [29] [30]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [63] [64]; 2009 No 15, Sch 1.4 [5].
Dictionary	Am 1999 No 85, Sch 2.28 [2]; 1999 No 94, Sch 4.114; 2004 No 87, Sch 2 [9]-[11]; 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [42]-[45]; 2005 No 98, Sch 3.30 [2]; 2006 No 2, Sch 2 [65] [66]; 2007 No 89, Sch 2.5 [6].
The whole Act (except Sch 7)	Am 2004 No 92, Sch 2 [1] (“chief executive officer” and “chief executive officers” omitted wherever occurring, “chief executive” and “chief executives” inserted instead, respectively).