A new beginning for health complaints in Queensland: the Health Ombudsman Act 2013 (QLD)

The Queensland Government has recently passed the Health Ombudsman Act 2013 (Qld) which will render Queensland a co-regulatory jurisdiction for the purpose of complaints in relation to all regulated health practitioners. The Act also establishes a single entry complaints management system which will apply not only to regulated health practitioners but also unregulated practitioners and health service facilities and organisations. This column considers the legislatively created positions and processes aimed at strengthening the capacity of the health complaints system to protect the public, ensure safe and competent practice, maintain high standards of service delivery and public confidence in both the practitioners and the system.