New South Wales Consolidated Acts

HEALTH SERVICES ACT 1997 - SECT 31

31 Opening and closing of hospitals, health institutions, health services or health support services

(cf AHS Act s 23)

(1) An area health service may, subject to any direction under this Act, at any time establish such hospitals, health institutions, health services or health support services as it thinks necessary for the exercise of its functions.

(2) An area health service may, subject to any direction under this Act, at any time:

(a) close any public hospital or health institution, or cease to provide any health service or health support service, under its control, or

(b) restrict the range of health care or treatment provided by any public hospital, health institution, health service or health support service under its control.

(3) An area health service must, before implementing any decision to exercise its functions under subsection (1) or (2):

(a) notify the Director-General of the decision, and

(b) ensure that the decision is appropriate having regard to the functions of the area health service.