Go to whole of WA Government Search
Home About us Policy Frameworks Clinical Services and Planning Mandatory Operational Directives Governance Policy

Mandatory Operational Directives Governance Policy

Applicable to: This policy is applicable to WA health entities.

Description: The purpose of the Mandatory Operational Directives Governance Policy (this policy) is to establish an effective mechanism under the Health Services Act 2016, to create a governed authorising environment for the development and delivery of Mandatory Operational Directives (MODs) to facilitate rapid response to address systemwide hospital and healthcare facility service issues. This policy enables the Director General to oversee Health Service Providers performance and ensure delivery of high quality, efficient and accountable health services in line with government priorities.

This policy will provide the mechanism for the Director General, or Deputy Director General, Chief Operating Officer Hospitals (DDG, COOH) under delegated authority approved by the Director General, to issue whole of WA health system MODs. These MODs will be time limited and established to address urgent health system operational matters as determined by the Director General and DDG, COOH. All MODs must contain an expiry date not exceeding 12 months from commencement unless formally extended by the Director General. MODs may be rescinded or replaced at any time by the Director General. The intent and focus of MODs is to provide a more targeted and timely intervention to address urgent matters at a whole of WA health system level.

MODs will include but not be limited to

  1. clinical services planning and programs
  2. compliance and regulatory obligations
  3. financial and procurement management requirements
  4. information and data security and its management
  5. operational matters that require improved consistency, accountability and assurance.

MODs are intended to be applied only where urgent system-wide action is required, and existing policy, performance management, governance or operational mechanisms are insufficient to achieve the required outcome within the necessary timeframe. MODs may be used to address significant operational risks, patient safety concerns, critical deterioration in health service performance, statutory, regulatory or legislative compliance requirements, or Government-priority operational matters requiring coordinated system-wide action.

Under section 28(1) of the Health Services Act 2016 (WA), the Department CEO may issue a direction requiring compliance in relation to:

  1. a matter set out in a policy framework; or
  2. any other matter in connection with the functions of the Department CEO under this Act in respect of which the Department CEO considers it necessary or desirable to issue directions.

This policy is a mandatory requirement for Health Service Providers under the Clinical Services and Planning Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(d) of the Health Services Act 2016.

This policy is also a mandatory requirement for the Department of Health pursuant to section 29 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.

This policy is to be read in conjunction with the following:

 

Date of effect: 05 August 2026

Policy Framework

Supporting information