Quality Assurance and Improvement Policy
MP 0201/26 - Quality Assurance and Improvement Policy (pdf 203KB)
Applicable to: This policy is applicable to all Health Service Providers.
Description: The Quality Assurance and Improvement Policy (this policy) outlines the department’s authority as the System Manager to request patient safety and clinical quality information from Health Service Providers (HSPs) to support its Department CEO’s functions set out in section 20(1)(l)–(na) of the Health Services Act 2016.
The requested patient safety and clinical quality information from HSPs supports quality improvement and other safety and quality initiatives, provides quality assurance, and assists the department in responding to System Manager, Ministerial or external queries.
This policy aims to:
- set clear expectation for the request and response process
- strengthen and standardise the process for departmental information requests to Health Service Providers
- ensure responses are timely, complete and accurate to support the Department in fulfilling its responsibilities for assuring, improving and reporting on safety and quality across the WA health system.
Effective information sharing supports the System Manager and Health Service Provider functions under the Health Services Act 2016 and other applicable legislation.
This policy is a mandatory requirement for Health Service Providers under the Clinical Governance, Safety and Quality Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(d) of the Health Services Act 2016.
Legislation pertinent to this policy includes:
- Public Health Act 2016 (WA)
- Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024
- Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
The policy does not replace or negate existing policy requirements related to information governance, access, use or management. For example, this policy relates to information for quality improvement and does not replace performance related data requests as per MP 0111/19 Performance Management Policy.
This policy is to be read in conjunction with the following mandatory policies:
Date of effect: 02 September 2026
Policy Framework
Clinical Governance, Safety and Quality
Quality-Assurance-and-Improvement-Information-Request-and-Response-Procedure (pdf 170KB)
Information-Request-and-Response-Form (pdf 128KB)