Private health facilities

On this page

1. Regulation and compliance
2. Licensed private health facilities
3. Administration of licences
4. More information

Regulation and compliance

The New South Wales Ministry of Health is the regulatory authority for privately owned and operated private health facilities across the state. Within the Ministry of Health the Regulation and Compliance Unit has responsibility on behalf of the Secretary, NSW Health for regulating private health facilities and enforcing licensing standards under the:

• Private Health Facilities Act 2007
• Private Health Facilities Regulation 2017

Licensed private health facilities

• Overnight Facilities
• Day Only Facilities
• Facilities Licensed to Supply Drugs of Addiction

Private health facilities legislation

The objects of the Private Health Facilities Act are:

1. to maintain appropriate and consistent standards of health care and professional practice in private health facilities, and
2. to plan for and provide comprehensive, balanced and coordinated health services throughout New South Wales.

The legislation sets the requirements for licensing including the minimum standards for the provision of safe, appropriate and quality health care for patients in private health facilities in NSW. Standards can be prescribed in respect to any matter relating to the safety, care or quality of life of patients at private health facilities, including the following matters:

1. clinical standards, including accreditation of practitioners to provide services at the facility, delineation of clinical privileges of practitioners and quality assurance,
2. staffing, including qualifications of staff members, number of staff and duties,
3. equipment,
4. design and construction of clinical areas,
5. operational matters, including administration and support services.

The Private Health Facilities Regulation 2017 specifies 19 classes of private health facilities and sets out the standards facilities are required to meet for each type of class. Facilities can be licenced for more than one class.

The NSW Ministry of Health adopts a risk management approach and works with the owners and managers of private health facilities to ensure that the appropriate standards of safety, care and quality of life for patients are met. The Secretary, NSW Health can cancel a licence if there is serious non-compliance with an Act or Regulation.

Administration of licences

The Regulation and Compliance Unit is also responsible for the administration of:

• private mental health facilities under Part 2, Division 2 of the Mental Health Act 2007 in conjunction with NSW Ministry of Health Mental Health and Drugs and Alcohol Office;
• administration of the licensing of anatomy laboratories under the Anatomy Act 1977
• administration of the licensing of poisons and therapeutic goods under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 and the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008

More information

Regulation and Compliance Unit
Telephone: +61 2 9424 5955
Fax: +61 2 9424 5960
Email: MOH-PrivateHealthCare@health.nsw.gov.au
Postal Address
Locked Mail Bag 2030, St Leonards NSW 1590