PIAC was closely involved in the consultations on a National Registration of Health Professionals. PIAC supports a national registration scheme in principle, but has some concerns about the proposed national healthcare complaints scheme. PIAC set out those concerns in a submission, ‘Maintaining a consumer focus in health complaints: the key to national best practice’, and participated in a national forum on the proposals. 

PIAC and the Council of Social Services of NSW (NCOSS) expressed concern about the potential loss of health consumers’ rights in a joint letter to all NSW MPs, as well as to NSW members of the Australian Parliament. The main policy objective was that an independent body be maintained to assess, investigate and prosecute complaints about health professionals. In NSW, the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) has performed that role since 1993.

PIAC made submissions to the NSW Joint Committee on the Health Care Complaints Commission and the Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into the National Registration Scheme, and gave evidence to the Senate Inquiry.

As a result of our campaign, the then NSW Health Minister, Mr John Della Bosca, announced that the HCCC would continue to assess, investigate and prosecute complaints as part of the national registration scheme.

PIAC will continue to lobby and campaign for independent assessment, investigation and prosecution of healthcare complaints in all Australian states and territories.