Submission on the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (third edition)
The Centre made a submission to National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (the Standards) pressing for the Standards to address the health needs of people with intellectual disability in hospitals.
The Standards are the rules set by the Australian Government for hospitals.
The Centre's submission made it clear that the third edition of the Standards need a strong focus on the approximately 560,000 people with intellectual disability in Australia.
Our submission included key recommendations:
- We welcome the inclusion of a section on equity and ask for a specific subsection about people with intellectual disability
- A requirement to focus on intersectional needs, for example needs of a First Nations person with intellectual disability
- Ensure reasonable adjustments meet the needs of people with intellectual disability by having systems to
- Identify people with disabilities
- Decide on reasonable adjustments with people with intellectual disability, their families, carers and disability supports
- Train health workers in providing reasonable adjustments
- Have requirements for trauma informed care and implement the recommendations of the Trust Guide (The Trust Guide).
- Disability support services to be involved in coordination of care.
You can read our submission here.
We urge the government to act on our recommendations and their commitment to the Disability Royal Commission, to embed the right to equitable access to health services so that health outcomes are improved for people with intellectual disability.
