1992
The Health Rights Commission established under the Health Rights Commission Act 1991 following the Commission of Inquiry into Townsville Hospital Ward 10B.
2003
April
Dr Jayant Patel starts work at Bundaberg Base Hospital. Complaints commenced six weeks later, with 22 incidents or issues formally reported in the two-year period of Dr Patel's employment.
2005
March
Member for Burnett Mr Rob Messenger tables in the Queensland Parliament a letter about Dr Patel, dated 22 October 2004, from Nurse Unit Manager Toni Hoffman to Peter Leck, District Manager, Bundaberg Base Hospital.
April
Government announces major independent review of Queensland Health’s systems in response to growing community concern about the safety and quality of health services in Queensland.
September
The
Queensland Health Systems Review (Forster Review) report recommends establishment of new independent health commission (recommendation 5.3) with the following key responsibilities:
- Coordination of and response to health care complaints (recommendation 9.16)
- Monitoring and review of the implementation of clinical governance and safety and quality of health services (recommendations 9.25 and 13.2)
- Regular public reporting (recommendations 9.25 and 13.2).
The Forster Review also recommended that a parliamentary committee assume the responsibility of external oversight of the health commission (recommendation 9.23).
October
The Premier and Treasurer and the Minister for Health announced the Government would establish the Health Quality and Complaints Commission as a body for monitoring and reporting on the quality and safety of health services in Queensland and managing health service complaints. The Government’s
Action Plan – Building a better health service for Queensland provided for $7.7 million in funding to be allocated to the new organisation.
July
Health Quality and Complaints Commission Act 2006 comes into force on 1 July. The Health Quality and Complaints Commission absorbs the previous Health Rights Commission, which had been, up until that time, the independent agency responsible for managing healthcare complaints.
The Act specified the establishment, functions, powers and operation of the HQCC. It also directed the Legislative Assembly, under section 216, to appoint a parliamentary committee to review and report on the performance of the commission and the operation of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission Act 2006 after one year of its operation.
Dr John Youngman MBBS (Qld) MPH (Harvard) appointed inaugural Health Quality and Complaints Commissioner.
September
Mrs Cheryl Herbert RN, RM, DipAppSc, BAppSc, FRCNA appointed inaugural Health Quality and Complaints Commission Chief Executive Officer.
2007
May
The 52nd Legislative Assembly of Queensland passes a motion appointing the
Health Quality and Complaints Commission Select Committee to review and report on the performance of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission and the operation of the
Health Quality and Complaints Commission Act 2006.
July
The Health Quality and Complaints Commission
healthcare standards come into force and quarterly reporting by acute and day hospitals introduced.
The Health Quality and Complaints Commission Select Committee commences operation.
November
The Health Quality and Complaints Commission Select Committee report makes 37 recommendations for improvement.
2008
January
Professor Michael Ward MBBS, FRACP, FRCP (Edin) appointed Health Quality and Complaints Commissioner.
February
Government response to the Health Quality and Complaints Commission Select Committee's Report, Review of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission and the Health Quality and Complaints Commission Act 2006 tabled in Parliament.
June
The Health Quality and Complaints Commission reports to the Minister for Health on the development of a Code of Health Rights and Responsibilities and recommendations about content and application.
July
An interim review of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission healthcare standards is completed, the standards are updated and six-monthly acute and day hospital reporting is introduced.
March
The Health Quality and Complaints Commission and fellow independent complaint agencies collocate at 53 Albert Street, Brisbane, creating a one-stop shop for people seeking to make a complaint
April
The
Social Development Committee established by resolution of the House to monitor and report on issues in the policy areas of health, education and training, social welfare services, community development, housing, child safety, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy. The Committee also has a role to monitor and report on the Family Responsibilities Commission, Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian, and the Health Quality and Complaints Commission.
September
The Health Quality and Complaints Commission finalises its investigation into the quality of health services provided to Ryan Saunders.
October
The Health Quality and Complaints Commission releases its first
Annual health check report on acute and day hospital compliance with healthcare standards.
2010
March
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announces National Health and Hospitals Reform - Local Hospital Networks and Medicare Locals.
July
A full review of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission healthcare standards is completed, the standards are updated and annual reporting by acute and day hospitals is introduced.
October
The Health Quality and Complaints Commission releases recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of septic shock in infants in regional and other Queensland hospitals.
The Health Quality and Complaints Commission, along with its counterpart agencies in the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia, sign a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
2011
January
Brisbane floods force unplanned Health Quality and Complaints Commission office closure from 11-24 January inclusive.
February
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces national health reforms.
Council of Australian Governments signs a Heads of Agreement on National Health Reform.
June
The Health and Disabilities Committee established by resolution of the House with responsibility for the Health, Mental Health and Disabilities portfolios and to monitor and review the performance of the functions of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission.
The Health Quality and Complaints Commission releases its
Annual health check 2010, a snapshot of its work in managing healthcare complaints and monitoring the quality of health services in Queensland.
September
Chief Executive Officer Adjunct Professor Cheryl Herbert RN, RM, DipAppSc, BAppSc, FRCNA reappointed for second five-year term to 25 September 2016.
November
Amendments to the Health Quality and Complaints Commission Act 2006 come into effect.
December
Commissioner Emeritus Professor Michael Ward MBBS, FRACP, FRCP (Edin) retires.
2012
January
Adjunct Professor Russell Stitz AM, RFD MBBS, FRACS, FRCS Eng, FRCS Ed (Hon), FCSHK (Hon), FRCST (Hon), FAMA, ASDA appointed Health Quality and Complaints Commissioner.
April
The Health Quality and Complaint's Commission's special report on credentialing and defining the scope of clinical practice for doctors employed by Queensland Health,
Doctor Right volume 1, is tabled in Parliament.
May
The
Health and Community Services Committee was established by the Queensland Legislative Assembly on 18 May 2012 as a portfolio committee with responsibility for Health; Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services; National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs. The committee also has responsibility for monitoring and reviewing the performance of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission.
The Health Quality and Complaints Commission releases its
Annual health check 2011, a snapshot of its work in managing healthcare complaints and monitoring the quality of health services in Queensland.
June
The Health Quality and Complaint's Commission's special report on credentialing and defining the scope of clinical practice for doctors working in private acute and day hospitals in Queensland,
Doctor Right volume 2, is tabled in Parliament.
Dr John Rivers BSc(Med), MBBS, FRACP, FCSANZ, Grad Dip AFI, GAICD appointed Assistant Commissioner, Medical.
Dr John North MBBS, FRACS, FAOrthA appointed to the Health Quality and Complaints Commission Clinical Advisory Committee.
July
September
December
The Premier, the Honourable Campbell Newman MP, and the Minister for Health, the Honourable Lawrence Springborg MP, launch the Blueprint for better healthcare in Queensland, including plans to introduce legislation to re-design the health complaints system in Queensland.