Notifications - AHPRA Annual Report 2015/16

AHPRA Annual Report 2015/16

Notifications

In the National Scheme, a complaint or concern about a registered health practitioner or student is called a ‘notification’. They are called notifications because we are ‘notified’ about concerns or complaints, which AHPRA manages on behalf of the National Boards.

Keeping the public safe is our core focus when Boards make decisions about notifications.

Anyone can notify us about a registered student or registered health practitioner’s health, performance or conduct. While registered health practitioners, employers and education providers (in relation to students) have mandatory reporting obligations required by the National Law, the majority of reports are voluntary.

There is a different process in New South Wales and Queensland. In NSW, AHPRA does not manage notifications. They are managed by the 14 health-profession councils (supported by the Health Professional Councils Authority) and by the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC). In Queensland, the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) receives all notifications and determines which of those are referred to a National Board/ AHPRA to manage.

Performance snapshot

Note: Supplementary data tables on notifications by issue category and profession, and by source and profession, are available on the Downloads page.

Overview

Our continued focus is on the timeliness of response to notifications, improving the notifier and practitioner experience and effective regulatory decision-making. We are committed to ensuring that our assessments and investigations are completed in a timely manner, taking into account the complexities of individual notifications.

Over the past year, there has been an increase in the number of open notifications. The total number increased by 28%, from 2,958 as at 30 June 2015 to 3,787 as at 30 June 2016. See Table N14. In part, this reflects the growth in the number of notifications received.

In particular, the number of matters referred to National Boards and AHPRA by the OHO in Queensland this year was 105.5% higher than the number of notifications referred in 2014/15. This increase significantly impacted national figures.

In 2015/16, 97.7% of prelimary assessments were completed within our 60-day targets. See Closure outcomes and timeliness.

The median age of open notifications as at 30 June 2016 was 137 days, five days fewer than when compared at the same point in 2014/15.

The number of matters open for longer than 365 days from receipt of notification has remained steady despite the significant increase in new matters received. Investigations older than 12 months increased to 426 in 2015/16 from 360 in 2014/15. While this remains lower than 2013/14 (436) we continue to refine our processes to ensure timely outcomes for notifiers and practitioners. See Table N15.

A program of quality audits of long-standing investigations has been initiated to reduce the time it takes for AHPRA and the National Boards to investigate concerns about registered practitioners, wherever possible. In the fourth quarter of 2015/16, 40.3% of the 520 investigations closed by AHPRA were older than 12 months.

This year, AHPRA initiated a number of major strategies to improve the notifier and practitioner experience including simplifying our official correspondence, consultation with professional groups (in particular the AMA), trialling a notifications liaison officer role and implementing surveys for notifiers on their experience and how it could be improved.

An important note about our data

Queensland became a co-regulatory jurisdiction on 1 July in 2014 with the commencement of the Health Ombudsman Act. The Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) receives all health complaints in Queensland, including those about registered health practitioners, and decides whether the complaint:

This means that AHPRA only reports data relating to matters referred by the OHO. We are not able to report on all complaints about registered health practitioners in Queensland.

Some NSW regulatory data published in this report may vary from data published in the NSW Health Professional Councils Authority’s (HPCA’s) Annual Report. This is due to subsequent data review by the HPCA after submission of initial data to AHPRA.

As part of our ongoing focus on improving our ways of working, we have continued to refine our data collection and reporting. This may mean that comparisons between years may not directly coincide. This year, notifications data are based on the practitioner’s Principal Place of Practice (PPP). This differs from previous years, when data were captured based on the jurisdiction where the individual notification was received and managed.

Improving notifier and practitioner experience

This year we piloted a survey of community notifiers, which rated AHPRA’s performance on the following criteria: accessibility, responsiveness, transparency, timeliness and fairness. The first survey was sent to notifiers whose cases were closed after the assessment stage in Victoria during the period December 2015 to May 2016. Preliminary results showed AHPRA rated well for ease of making a notification, having a point of contact and being advised of Board decisions and the reasons for those decisions. Areas for improvement included our timeliness in our response to initial contact, notifiers feeling they were treated fairly and being kept up to date during the process.

We are now looking to roll out a Notifier Survey online, which will aim to increase the number of respondents and allow a greater level of analysis, including targeting specific aspects of the notifier experience. We also plan to survey the experience of practitioners who are subject to a notification.

Notifications received

In total, there were 10,082 notifications received across the National Scheme in 2015/16, representing a national increase of 19.7% from the previous year. However, there are differences across states and territories and professions.

For example, there has been a marginal reduction in the number of notifications received in Western Australia (less than 1%), with a more significant

reduction of 16% in the Northern Territory.

This contrasted with a significant increase of 23% in notifications received in South Australia, and a 105.5% increase in the number of matters referred from the OHO to AHPRA in Queensland.

The remaining jurisdictions had moderate percentage increases in the number of notifications received. Victorian notification numbers were steady when compared with the previous year.

Consistent with previous years, the highest number of notifications related to medical practitioners, with 5,371 (53.3%) notifications made about the profession. See Table N2.

The proportion of registered health practitioners with a notification increased to 1.5% in 2015/16, a 0.2% increase when compared with the previous year. The most significant increases were recorded in the chiropractic (increase of 1.3%) and dental (increase of 1.1%) professions. See Table N3.

There were 78 notifications received nationally about registered students, an increase of 56%. Most were in relation to medical and nursing students, which is consistent with previous years. The national increase is mainly attributed to a rise in student notifications being managed by the HPCA in NSW. See Table N12.

Mandatory notifications

Of the 10,082 notifications received nationally, there were 980 mandatory notifications. This represents 9.7% of notifications received nationally in 2015/16.

This is an increase of 23.8% mandatory notifications in 2015/16 when compared with 2014/15 (AHPRA only; 17.7% including HPCA). The most significant increases were in South Australia and Victoria. See Table N9.

Of the mandatory notifications received by AHPRA in 2015/16, 71.3% relate to professional standards, while a further 20.9% relate to impairment. This was an increase in mandatory notifications relating to professional standards. See Table N10.

The proportion of mandatory notifications that resulted in regulatory action taken by a National Board was 49.2% in 2015/16.

These data suggest that notifiers are making more appropriate mandatory notifications, having reasonably assessed that the risk to the public warrants the notification being made. Our awareness-raising campaigns aimed at practitioners and their employers may also have contributed. See Table N11.

Closure outcomes and timeliness

AHPRA closed a total of 5,227 matters in 2015/16.

Of all notifications closed, 30.2% led to some form of regulatory action taken by a National Board in relation to a practitioner. See Tables N4 and N5.

Table N6 reports outcomes at closure for HPCA.

Of the notifications finalised in 2015/16 by AHPRA, 14.6% resulted in conditions being placed on registration or undertakings accepted by a National Board, a slight decrease from last year.

66.3% of all notifications that were closed resulted in no further regulatory action, which is a slight increase but generally consistent with the proportion from 2014/15 (60%). No further action is usually taken when, based on the available information, the Board determines there is no risk to the public that meets the legal threshold for regulatory action.

No further regulatory action on the part of a Board may also be because a practitioner has taken steps to voluntarily address issues of concern.

An overall increase in the volume of notifications received saw assessment timeframes impacted, particularly by the significantly increased referral rate from the OHO in Queensland.

In 2015/16, AHPRA and the National Boards took 82 days to close matters in assessment. See Table N1. When data from Queensland are not included, the average time that it took to close notifications in assessment in 2015/16 was 70 days. On average, it took 48 days to move notifications from assessment to another stage of the notification process because further enquiries or investigation was required. When data from Queensland are not included, the average time reduced to 40 days.

Table N1: Timeframes for matters in assessment
Average time (in days) to: 2014/15 2015/16 % change
Close matters in assessment 73 82 13% increase
Complete assessments and move to another stage 46 48 4% increase

Who makes complaints and why?

In 2015/16, 48.8% of the notifications we received were made directly by a patient, relative or other member of the public. A further 7.2% of the notifications we received came via a health complaints entity (not including notifications referred from the OHO), representing a decrease in referral rate when compared with 14% in 2014/15.

Just 1.9% of notifications received were made anonymously. See supplementary data tables on the Downloads page.

In 2015/16, 41.8% of the notifications we received were about the clinical care provided by a health practitioner. A further 10.7% of notifications were about practitioners with a health impairment.

After these two categories, the main areas of concern were pharmacy/medication (11.5%), communication (6.5%), documentation (4.4%) and boundary violation (3.4%). See supplementary data tables on the Downloads page.

Immediate action

Taking immediate action is a serious step that a Board can take only when it believes it may need to suspend or limit a practitioner’s registration in some way to keep the public safe, as an interim step while more information is gathered during an investigation.

National Boards considered taking immediate action in relation to a practitioner on 464 separate occasions in 2015/16. This is an increase of 26.8% on the previous year, with a significant proportion of the increase attributed to an increase of immediate actions considered in Queensland. Three hundred and seventy-six immediate actions were taken in response to a mandatory notification, which is generally consistent with data from the previous year (excluding HPCA data).

The median time to take immediate action over 2015/2016 was eight days. This is the time from when an immediate-action record is created in AHPRA’s database (triggered by receiving information that makes AHPRA consider immediate action may be necessary) to when the Board’s decision to take immediate action is entered into AHPRA’s database. This time includes a ‘showcause’ period, which allows the practitioner the opportunity to make a submission about the action being proposed and is an important part of maintaining procedural fairness.

While there is no clearly accepted international benchmark, we continue to compare favourably to regulators in the United Kingdom on the timeliness of taking interim actions when there is an identified significant risk to the public. According to the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) Annual report and accounts and performance review report 2014/15, the median time for UK regulators to issue an interim order (upon receipt of information indicating the need for an interim order) is between 2.4 and 6 weeks.

Of all immediate actions considered by National Boards, 63.8% resulted in conditions or undertakings on practice, an increase of almost 47.3% on the previous year. As these restrictions and undertakings are closely monitored once imposed, any risk is being managed while the investigation continues. The number of immediate actions taken that resulted in a practitioner’s registration being suspended fell compared with 2014/15.

A further breakdown of immediate actions considered by National Boards in 2015/16:

Table N2: Notifications received in 2015/16 by profession and state or territory1
Profession2 AHPRA3 ACT AHPRA NSW4 AHPRA NT AHPRA QLD 5 AHPRA SA AHPRA TAS AHPRA VIC AHPRA WA AHPRA No PPP6 AHPRA Subtotal 2015/16 HPCA7 Total 2015/16 Total 2014/15
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 5 7
Chinese Medicine Practitioner 1 1 0 10 4 1 10 0 1 28 26 54 22
Chiropractor 1 0 1 24 9 0 31 12 4 82 64 146 75
Dental Practitioner 16 12 6 167 55 14 138 86 3 497 528 1,025 766
Medical Practitioner 105 58 54 1058 379 131 953 382 27 3147 2224 5,371 4541
Medical Radiation Practitioner 0 0 1 11 6 0 13 4 1 36 12 48 31
Midwife 5 3 3 35 8 2 27 11 1 95 8 103 74
Nurse 35 10 35 417 258 60 378 130 17 1340 602 1,942 1733
Occupational Therapist 0 1 1 12 2 0 14 5 0 35 24 59 49
Optometrist 1 0 0 7 3 1 3 1 1 17 22 39 55
Osteopath 2 0 1 2 0 0 8 1 0 14 9 23 13
Pharmacist 20 2 7 68 32 21 132 28 1 311 259 570 490
Physiotherapist 2 1 3 23 5 2 20 10 0 66 36 102 97
Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon 0 0 0 10 5 2 15 8 2 42 15 57 37
Psychologist 18 6 7 75 41 8 135 40 1 331 197 528 432
Not identified2 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 1 10   10 4
2015/16 Total (PPP)1 206 94 123 1,919 808 242 1,886 718 60 6,056 4,026 10,082  
2014/15 Total (PPP)1 178 53 147 934 655 215 1,889 758 55 4,884 3,542   8426
2014/15 Total (Responsible Office)3 194   178 9174 676 237 1,901 781   4,884 3542   8426

Notes:

  1. Based on state and territory of the practitioners’ principal place of practice.
  2. Profession of registrant is not always identifiable in the early stages of a notification.
  3. Based on the state or territory where the notification is handled for registrants, including those registrants who do not reside in Australia.
  4. Matters managed by AHPRA where the conduct occurred outside NSW.
  5. Based on the number of matters referred by the Office of the Health Ombudsman to AHPRA and the National Boards.
  6. No principal place of practice (No PPP) will include practitioners with an overseas address.
  7. Health Professional Councils Authority.
Table N3: Percentage of registrant base with notifications received in 2015/16 by profession and state or territory1
Profession ACT NSW (including HPCA complaints)4 NT QLD5 SA TAS VIC WA No PPP6 Total 2015/16 Total 2014/15
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner   0.0% 1.9%   1.9%         0.9% 1.8%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner 1.5% 1.4%   1.2% 2.2% 3.0% 0.8%   1.0% 1.1% 0.5%
Chiropractor 1.5% 3.7% 4.3% 2.9% 2.4%   2.3% 2.0% 2.5% 2.8% 1.5%
Dental Practitioner 4.0% 8.2% 3.9% 3.9% 3.1% 3.9% 2.8% 3.4% 0.5% 4.7% 3.6%
Medical Practitioner 5.1% 6.9% 4.6% 5.1% 4.8% 5.9% 3.7% 3.6% 0.9% 5.0% 4.4%
Medical Radiation Practitioner   0.2% 0.9% 0.4% 0.5%   0.3% 0.3% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2%
Midwife2 0.7% 0.1% 0.5% 0.5% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.7% 0.3% 0.2%
Nurse3 0.6% 0.6% 0.8% 0.6% 0.8% 0.7% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% 0.5% 0.5%
Occupational Therapist   0.5% 0.6% 0.3% 0.1%   0.3% 0.2% 0.0% 0.3% 0.3%
Optometrist 1.3% 1.3%   0.7% 1.1% 1.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.6% 0.8% 1.1%
Osteopath 5.9% 1.6% 33.3% 1.1%     0.7% 1.6% 0.0% 1.1% 0.7%
Pharmacist 3.9% 2.8% 3.2% 1.2% 1.5% 3.0% 1.8% 0.9% 0.2% 1.9% 1.7%
Physiotherapist 0.4% 0.4% 1.8% 0.4% 0.2% 0.4% 0.3% 0.3% 0.0% 0.4% 0.4%
Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon   1.2%   1.3% 1.2% 1.9% 1.0% 1.8% 2.9% 1.2% 0.8%
Psychologist 2.1% 1.8% 3.1% 1.2% 2.4% 1.4% 1.5% 1.1% 0.2% 1.6% 1.3%
Total 2015/16 (PPP) 1.8% 2.2% 1.8% 1.5% 1.5% 1.7% 1.1% 1.1% 0.4% 1.5%  
Total 2014/15 (PPP) 1.6% 1.9% 2.2% 0.8% 1.3% 1.5% 1.1% 1.2% 0.3%   1.3%
Total 2014/15 (Responsible Office) 1.8% 1.9% 2.7% 0.8% 1.3% 1.7% 1.2% 1.2%     1.3%

Notes:

  1. Percentages for each state and profession are based on registrants whose profession has been identified and whose principal place of practice (PPP) is an Australian state or territory. Notifications where the profession of the registrant has not been identified are represented only in the profession totals above.
    Registrants whose principal place of practice is not in Australia are represented in the ‘No PPP’ section.
  2. The registrant base used for midwives includes registrants with midwifery or with nursing and midwifery registration.
  3. The registrant base for nurses includes registrants with nursing registration or with nursing and midwifery registration.
  4. The registrant base for NSW includes registrants with a complaint managed by the HPCA as well as notifications managed by AHPRA about a practitioner with a PPP in NSW.
  5. Based on the number of matters referred by the Office of the Health Ombudsman to AHPRA and the National Boards.
  6. No principal place of practice (No PPP) will include practitioners with an overseas address.
Table N4: Notifications closed in 2015/16 by profession, stage at closure and jurisdiction (including HPCA1)
Profession Assessment AHPRA Assessment HPCA Investigation AHPRA Investigation HPCA Health or performance assessment AHPRA Health or performance assessment HPCA Panel hearing AHPRA Panel hearing HPCA Tribunal hearing AHPRA Tribunal hearing HPCA Subtotal 2015/16 AHPRA Subtotal 2015/16 HPCA Total 2015/16 Total 2014/15
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner 4   4   1   0   0   9 0 9 5
Chinese Medicine Practitioner 17 10 3   2 1 1   2   25 11 36 27
Chiropractor 24 41 20 6 2 1 3 3 0 1 49 52 101 98
Dental Practitioner 246 365 112   10 11 8 23 17 2 393 401 794 849
Medical Practitioner 1,739 1,402 689 85 108 358 86 126 96 25 2,718 1,996 4,714 4,885
Medical Radiation Practitioner 13 8 8   4 1 0 2 2   27 11 38 31
Midwife 42 6 20   11   1 1 2   76 7 83 92
Nurse 587 275 348 17 176 172 27 116 36 8 1,174 588 1,762 1,755
Occupational Therapist 18 19 8   0 6 2 3 0   28 28 56 48
Optometrist 12 27 5   0   0   0   17 27 44 53
Osteopath 9 1 0 6 0 1 0   0 10 9 18 27 13
Pharmacist 191 158 74 8 10 36 20 29 6 5 301 236 537 528
Physiotherapist 31 32 16 2 6 1 1 3 1   55 38 93 115
Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon 19 11 6 6 1 3 1   0 2 27 22 49 44
Psychologist 184 87 73 8 9 42 29 35 12 5 307 177 484 458
Not identified2 11   0   1   0   0   12 0 12 2
Total 2015/16 3,147 2,442 1,386 138 341 633 179 341 174 58 5,227 3,612 8,839  
Total 2014/15 3,069 2,598 1,772 85 440 556 269 35 179 0 5,729 3,274   9,003

Notes:

  1. Health Professional Councils Authority.
  2. Practitioner profession may not have been identified in notifications closed at an early stage.
Table N5: Notifications closed in 2015/16 by outcome (excluding HPCA)1
Profession No further action Refer all or part of the notification to another body HCE to retain2 Accept undertaking Caution or reprimand Fine registrant Impose conditions Accept surrender of registration Suspend registration Cancel registration Not permitted to reapply for registration for 12 months or more Proceedings withdrawn Total 2015/16 Total 2014/15
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner 6 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 5
Chinese Medicine Practitioner 18 0 0 1 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 25 17
Chiropractor 33 0 0 1 8 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 49 68
Dental Practitioner 236 9 10 16 62 0 45 0 1 12 0 2 393 538
Medical Practitioner 1,936 34 89 68 329 5 205 0 30 13 5 4 2,718 2,954
Medical Radiation Practitioner 18 0 0 0 5 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 27 19
Midwife 48 0 2 7 8 0 9 0 1 1 0 0 76 84
Nurse 707 8 13 61 171 0 191 5 11 3 3 1 1,174 1,222
Occupational Therapist 21 0 0 0 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 28 36
Optometrist 10 0 1 0 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 17 27
Osteopath 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 7
Pharmacist 141 1 2 14 90 0 50 0 0 3 0 0 301 323
Physiotherapist 36 0 0 0 9 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 55 83
Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon 16 0 2 2 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 27 31
Psychologist 220 1 0 11 21 0 47 1 2 2 0 2 307 313
Not identified 11 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 2
2015/16 Total 3,466 53 120 181 719 5 580 6 46 34 8 9 5,227  
2014/15 Total 3,439 22 435 311 811 12 612 12 38 24 9 4   5,729

Notes:

  1. A matter may result in more than one outcome. Only the most serious outcome from each closed notification has been noted.
  2. Health complaints entity.
Table N6: HPCA jurisdiction notifications closed in 2015/16 by outcome1,2
Profession No further action3 No jurisdiction4 Discontinued Withdrawn Make a new complaint Refer all or part of the notification to another body Caution Reprimand Orders - No conditions Finding - No orders Counselling /Interview Resolution/Conciliation by HCCC Fine Refund/Payment/ Withhold fee/ Retreat Conditions by consent Order - Impose conditions; would be conditions if registered Accept surrender Accept registration type change to non-practising Suspend Cancelled registration/Disqualified from registering Total 2015/16 Total 2014/15
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner                                         0  
Chinese Medicine Practitioner 7   2     2                             11 10
Chiropractor 19   17 1   2   1 3   6         1     3   53 30
Dental Practitioner 208 3 132 17   4 7 13     17     2   18         421 316
Medical Practitioner 558 31 1,092 60   91 4 18 8   4 48       58 17 6 3 18 2,016 1935
Medical Radiation Practitioner 9   2                                   11 12
Midwife 1 2 3                       1           7 8
Nurse 190 80 155 7   15 1 3   3 36 9     62 18 5     8 592 537
Occupational Therapist 16   9 1                       2         28 12
Optometrist 4   9 1   2         11                   27 26
Osteopath 3   3               2                 10 18 6
Pharmacist 117 4 56 3   8 4 3 4   10         24     5 4 242 212
Physiotherapist 17 1 12 3             3 1       1         38 32
Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon     9 1             6               6   22 13
Psychologist 42 14 62 8   3   1 1   13 1     4 11 8   2 8 178 146
Total 2015/16 1,191 135 1,563 102 0 127 16 39 16 3 108 59 0 2 67 133 30 6 19 48 3,664  
Total 2014/15 902 81 1,559 103 44 89 7 19 9 2 166 96 1 2 60 112 15 6 4 18   3,295

Notes:

  1. Health Professional Councils Authority. NSW legislation provides for a range of different outcomes for complaints in NSW. Some of these map to outcomes available under the National Law; others are specific to the NSW jurisdiction.
  2. Each notification may have more than one outcome; all outcomes have been included.
  3. Includes Resolved before assessment, Apology, Advice, Council Letter, Comments by Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), Deceased, Interview.
  4. Includes practitioners who failed to renew.
Table N7: Immediate action cases (including HPCA)1
Profession No action taken AHPRA No action taken HPCA Suspend registration AHPRA Suspend registration HPCA Accept surrender of registration AHPRA Accept surrender of registration HPCA Impose conditions AHPRA Impose conditions HPCA Accept undertaking AHPRA Accept undertaking HPCA Decision pending2 AHPRA Decision pending2 HPCA Total 2015/16 AHPRA Total 2015/16 HPCA Total 2014/15 AHPRA Total 2014/15 HPCA3
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0 0 0 0 2 0
Chinese Medicine Practitioner 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0   0 0 2 2 2 2
Chiropractor 1 0 3 0 0 0 3 1 1   0 0 8 1 5 3
Dental Practitioner 2 15 3 9 1 0 35 10 3   0 0 44 34 15 33
Medical Practitioner 42 14 9 18 3 7 66 57 39   8 5 167 101 132 67
Medical Radiation Practitioner 1 0 1 1 0 0 4 0 0   0 0 6 1 4 0
Midwife 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 0 1   0 0 10 0 10 2
Nurse 19 23 46 2 2 0 99 78 20   2 0 188 103 138 100
Occupational Therapist 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0 0 0 0 1 0
Optometrist 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   1 0 1 0 1 0
Osteopath 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0   0 0 0 1 0 1
Pharmacist 4 10 2 1 0 0 9 15 2   3 0 20 26 11 25
Physiotherapist 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0   0 0 6 1 4 0
Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0   0 0 2 0 3 0
Psychologist 1 3 6 1 0 0 2 11 1   0 0 10 15 8 9
Total 2015/16 74 65 74 32 6 7 229 176 67 0 14 5 464 285    
Total 2014/15 45 40 66 40 2 1 124 161 77 0 22 0     336 242

Notes:

  1. Cases where immediate action has been initiated under Part 8, Division 7 of the National Law.
  2. In these cases where immediate action was initiated towards the close of the reporting year, an outcome decision has not been finalised.
  3. HPCA data exclude matters that were considered for immediate action but did not proceed to a hearing.
Table N8: Tribunals in each state and territory
State/Territory Tribunal
New South Wales NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Australian Capital Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Northern Territory Health Professional Review Tribunal
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
South Australia Health Practitioners Tribunal
Tasmania Health Practitioners Tribunal
Victoria Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Western Australia State Administrative Tribunal
Table N9: Mandatory notifications received by profession and state or territory (including HPCA)1
Profession AHPRA ACT AHPRA NSW AHPRA NT AHPRA QLD2 AHPRA SA AHPRA TAS AHPRA VIC AHPRA WA AHPRA No PPP4 AHPRA Subtotal 2015/16 HPCA Total 2015/16 Total 2014/15
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner         1         1 0 1 2
Chinese Medicine Practitioner             2     2 2 4 1
Chiropractor         3   3 2   8 2 10 4
Dental Practitioner 3     2 3 1 9 2 2 22 5 27 22
Medical Practitioner 12 3   6 43 11 72 37 3 187 85 272 212
Medical Radiation Practitioner         1   1 3   5 2 7 6
Midwife 3       3 1 3 3   13 3 16 20
Nurse 16 5 1 7 138 18 103 41 3 332 187 519 472
Occupational Therapist         1   1     2 0 2 4
Optometrist         1         1 0 1 1
Osteopath                   0 1 1 1
Pharmacist 9 1     5 2 10 7   34 4 38 38
Physiotherapist               1   1 4 5 6
Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon         1   3     4 1 5 2
Psychologist 1       5 2 17 4   29 43 72 42
Total 2015/16 (PPP)1 44 9 1 15 205 35 224 100 8 641 339 980  
Total 2014/15 (PPP)1 17 11 2 16 149 30 171 106 16 518 315   833
Total 2014/15 (Responsible Office)3 20   4 14 160 34 172 114   518 315   833

Notes:

  1. Based on state and territory of the practitioners’ principal place of practice.
  2. Based on the number of matters referred by the Office of the Health Ombudsman to AHPRA and the National Boards.
  3. Based on the state or territory where the notification is handled for registrants, including those registrants who do not reside in Australia.
  4. No principal place of practice (No PPP) will include practitioners with an overseas address.
Table N10: Grounds for mandatory notification by profession and jurisdiction (including HPCA)
Profession Standards AHPRA Standards HPCA Impairment AHPRA Impairment HPCA Alcohol or drugs AHPRA Alcohol or drugs HPCA Sexual misconduct AHPRA Sexual misconduct HPCA Not classified AHPRA Not classified HPCA Total 2015/16 AHPRA Total 2015/16 HPCA Total 2014/15 AHPRA Total 2014/15 HPCA
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner 1   0   0   0   0   1 0 2 0
Chinese Medicine Practitioner 2 1 0 1 0   0   0   2 2 0 1
Chiropractor 7 2 0   0   1   0   8 2 4 0
Dental Practitioner 14 2 6 2 0   1 1 1   22 5 18 4
Medical Practitioner 135 48 40 18 1 11 7 8 4   187 85 159 53
Medical Radiation Practitioner 2 2 1   2   0   0   5 2 3 3
Midwife 12 2 1   0   0 1 0   13 3 14 6
Nurse 232 118 74 62 20 2 4 5 2   332 187 261 211
Occupational Therapist 2   0   0   0   0   2 0 3 1
Optometrist 1   0   0   0   0   1 0 1 0
Osteopath   1                 0 1 1 0
Pharmacist 26   6 2 2 2 0   0   34 4 26 12
Physiotherapist 1 2 0 1 0   0 1 0   1 4 5 1
Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon 2 1 2   0   0   0   4 1 2 0
Psychologist 20 31 4 8 0 1 5 3 0   29 43 19 23
Total 2015/16 457 210 134 94 25 16 18 19 7 0 641 339    
Total 2014/15 313 164 121 127 54 9 25 15 5 0     518 315
Table N11: Outcomes of mandatory notifications closed by profession and jurisdiction
Profession Discontinued / Proceedings withdrawn AHPRA Discontinued / Proceedings withdrawn HPCA Changed to non-practising AHPRA Changed to non-practising HPCA Other/No jurisdiction AHPRA Other/No jurisdiction HPCA1 Counselling AHPRA Counselling HPCA No further action AHPRA No further action HPCA Refer all or part of the notification to another body AHPRA Refer all or part of the notification to another body HPCA Fine registrant AHPRA Fine registrant HPCA Finding - No Orders AHPRA Finding - No Orders HPCA Caution or reprimand AHPRA Caution or reprimand HPCA Accept undertaking AHPRA Accept undertaking HPCA Impose conditions AHPRA Impose conditions HPCA2 Accept surrender of registration AHPRA Accept surrender of registration HPCA Suspend registration AHPRA Suspend registration HPCA Cancel registration/ Disqualify AHPRA Cancel registration/ Disqualify HPCA Not permitted to reapply for registration for 12 months or more AHPRA Not permitted to reapply for registration for 12 months or more HPCA Total 2015/16 AHPRA Total 2015/16 HPCA Total 2014/15 AHPRA Total 2014/15 HPCA
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner 0               1   0   0       0   0   0       0   0   0   1 0 1  
Chinese Medicine Practitioner 0               0 1     0       0   0   0       0   0   0   0 1 1 1
Chiropractor 0               3 2 0   0       3   0   1       0   0   0   7 2 5 2
Dental Practitioner 0 1             14   0   0       1 3 0   4 3     1   3   0   23 7 26 1
Medical Practitioner 1 18   2   1     97 21 2 4 4       27 2 12   39 13   2 9 1 4 2 1   196 66 230 39
Medical Radiation Practitioner 0               3 1 0   0       1   0   1       1   0   0   6 1 3 7
Midwife 0 1       2     10 1 0   0       0   4   0       0   0   0   14 4 26 4
Nurse 1 5       48   12 152 66 3 5 0     1 42 2 36   66 48   3 5   2 3 2   309 193 370 152
Occupational Therapist 0               1 1 0   0       1   0   0       0   0   0   2 1 9 1
Optometrist 0               0   0   0       0   0   0       0   0   0   0 0 1 0
Osteopath 0               0   0   0       0   0   0       0   0 1 0   0 1 1  
Pharmacist 0 1             9 2 0   0       7 1 6   6 2     0   0   0   28 6 44 6
Physiotherapist 0               3   0   0       0   0   1       0   0   0   4 0 16 3
Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon 0 1             4   0   0       0   1   0       0   0   0   5 1 5 0
Psychologist 0 6           2 17 5 0 1 0       2 1 6   9 8   4 1 1 2 2 0   37 30 37 18
Unknown 0               0   0   0       0   0   0       0   0   0   0 0    
Total 2015/16 2 33 0 2 0 51 0 14 314 100 5 10 4 0 0 1 84 9 65 0 127 74 0 9 17 2 11 8 3 0 632 313    
Total 2014/15 1 31 0 4 0 25 0 28 307 79 4 4 4 0     121 1 114 0 198 53 4 2 13 2 6 5 3 0     775 234

Notes:

  1. Includes practitioners who failed to renew.
  2. Includes conditions by consent.
Table N12: Student notifications received (mandatory/voluntary) in 2015/161
Profession AHPRA ACT AHPRA NSW AHPRA NT AHPRA QLD AHPRA SA AHPRA TAS AHPRA VIC AHPRA WA AHPRA No PPP3 AHPRA Subtotal 2015/16 HPCA Total 2015/16 Total 2014/15
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner                   0   0 0
Chinese Medicine Practitioner                 1 1   1 0
Chiropractor             1     1   1 0
Dental Practitioner                 3 3 2 5 1
Medical Practitioner           1     6 7 15 22 10
Medical Radiation Practitioner                   0   0 0
Midwife       1 1         2   2 0
Nurse     1   2   1   13 17 26 43 32
Occupational Therapist                   0 1 1 1
Optometrist                   0   0 0
Osteopath                   0   0 0
Pharmacist             1   1 2   2 3
Physiotherapist                   0 1 1 3
Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon                   0   0 0
Psychologist                   0   0 0
Total 2015/16 (PPP)1 0 0 1 1 3 1 3 0 24 33 45 78  
Total 2014/15 (PPP)1 0 0 0 3 5 1 3 0 19 31 19   50
Total 2014/15 (Responsible Office)2 0   0 10 9 4 8 0   31 19   50

Notes:

  1. Based on state and territory of the students’ principal place of practice.
  2. State and territory where the notification is handled for student registrants and for student registrants who do not reside in Australia.
  3. No principal place of practice (No PPP) will include students with an overseas address.
Table N13: Outcomes of notifications (mandatory/voluntary) about students by stage at closure
Stage at closure No further action AHPRA No further action HPCA1 Impose conditions AHPRA Impose conditions HPCA Accept undertaking AHPRA Accept undertaking HPCA Caution AHPRA Caution HPCA No Jurisdiction AHPRA No Jurisdiction HPCA Refer to Other AHPRA Refer to Other HPCA Discontinue AHPRA Discontinue HPCA Counselling AHPRA Counselling HPCA Total 2015/16 Total 2014/15
Assessment 15 2         1     1   2   3   2 26 14
Investigation                                 0 2
Health or performance assessment 3 8     1         5             17 1
Panel Hearing   5   8                         13  
Total 2015/16 18 15 0 8 1 0 1 0 0 6 0 2 0 3 0 2 56  
Total 2014/15 13   2   1   1                     17

Notes:

  1. Health Professional Councils Authority.
Table N14: Open notifications at 30 June 2016 by profession and state and territory (including HPCA)1
Profession AHPRA ACT AHPRA NSW AHPRA NT AHPRA QLD AHPRA SA AHPRA TAS AHPRA VIC AHPRA WA AHPRA No PPP4 AHPRA Subtotal 2015/16 HPCA5 Total 2015/16 Total 2014/15
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 5
Chinese Medicine Practitioner 0 0 0 4 4 0 6 0 0 14 19 33 15
Chiropractor 2 1 1 18 33 0 20 15 2 92 34 126 76
Dental Practitioner 7 4 4 106 51 5 72 75 0 324 297 621 381
Medical Practitioner 52 29 28 710 209 53 528 223 11 1843 1039 2882 2212
Medical Radiation Practitioner 0 0 1 9 6 0 5 1 1 23 4 27 17
Midwife 5 1 1 23 10 1 27 7 2 77 5 82 57
Nurse 23 11 20 290 198 32 235 78 8 895 331 1226 1053
Occupational Therapist 0 0 0 8 1 0 8 2 0 19 6 25 19
Optometrist 0 0 0 6 3 1 0 1 0 11 4 15 20
Osteopath 0 0 1 2 0 0 3 0 0 6 3 9 12
Pharmacist 14 2 2 40 17 8 71 30 0 184 146 330 311
Physiotherapist 0 0 3 15 7 2 13 9 0 49 18 67 57
Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon 0 0 0 6 2 0 10 3 1 22 6 28 21
Psychologist 7 1 7 51 22 4 83 51 0 226 90 316 273
Not identified2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 2
Total 2015/16 (PPP)1 110 49 68 1288 564 106 1082 495 25 3787 2002 5789  
Total 2014/15 (PPP)1 114 44 84 749 446 119 940 436 26 2958 1573   4531
Total 2014/15 (Responsible Office)3 121   90 773 462 127 918 467   2958 1573   4531

Notes:

  1. Based on state and territory of the practitioners’ principal place of practice.
  2. Profession of registrant is not always identifiable in the early stages of a notification.
  3. Based on the state or territory where the notification is handled for registrants, including those registrants who do not reside in Australia.
  4. No principal place of practice (No PPP) will include practitioners with an overseas address.
  5. Health Professional Councils Authority.
Table N15: Open notifications at 30 June 2016 by length of time at each stage (excluding HPCA)1
Current stage of open notification < 3 Months 3 - 6 Months 6 - 9 Months 9 - 12 Months 12 - 24 Months > 24 Months Total 2015/16
Assessment 855 137 19   6 12 1,029
Health or performance assessment 114 98 53 26 18 2 311
Investigation 622 512 326 245 333 93 2,131
Panel hearing 27 14 4 3 7 1 56
Subtotal 2015/16 1,618 761 402 274 364 108 3,527
Subtotal 2014/15 1,167 587 271 198 316 83 2,622
Tribunal hearing 41 11 20 25 48 115 260
Total 2015/16 1,659 772 422 299 412 223 3,787
Total 2014/15 1,198 623 304 225 455 153 2,958

Notes:

  1. Tribunal proceedings are conducted in accordance with timetables set by the responsible tribunal in each jurisdiction.