Review of the WA Health Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration Policy

Overview

You are invited to share your perspective on the revised draft WA Health Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration (RRAD) Policy, which is being evaluated by the Patient Safety and Clinical Quality Directorate, Department of Health.

Early recognition and timely response when a patient’s clinical condition worsens can minimise the need for more intensive and complex stabilising interventions. The RRAD Policy establishes minimum mandatory requirements for HSPs – through the development of local policies, processes, and systems – to facilitate early recognition and response to acute deterioration in WA Health.

The Policy enforces clinical guidance in the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (Standard 8: Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration), and is a mandatory requirement under the Clinical Governance, Safety and Quality Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(c) of the Health Services Act 2016.

The draft proposed Policy supersedes the existing MP0086/18 Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration Policy and RRAD Policy Supporting Information.

Why your views matter

The Patient Safety and Clinical Quality Directorate, Department of Health, is  reviewing MP86 ‘Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration Policy’.

We are seeking perspectives from clinical and non-clinical WA Health staff to understand how the Department can responsively assist Health Service Providers (HSPs) to meet patient safety and clinical quality obligations through the revised RRAD Policy.

Since the existing RRAD policy was last revised, developments in the clinical governance and legislative landscape for RRAD include:

• The introduction of National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards version 2 and NSQHSS Advisory AS 19/01 ‘Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration Standard: Recognising deterioration in a person's mental state’
   
• High-profile clinical incidents relating to acute deterioration; and reported variation in HSP compliance with NSQHS Standard 8 during accreditation 
   
• Updates to clinical best-practice: definitions and terminology, the inclusion of new clinical areas (including sepsis and mental state deterioration), and emerging technological advancements to support RRAD

• You must complete this survey with reference to the revised draft Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration Policy, the RRAD Policy Review Discussion Paper, and previous RRAD Policy Supporting Information.
   
• The information you provide in this survey will not be used in an identifable manner unless you provide your contact details for further consultation. Anonymised feedback may be shared with Safety and Quality Executives in Health Service Providers for the purposes of policy review and service design.
   
• The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
   
• Contact Senior Policy Officer Dr Jane-Heloise Nancarrow, Jane-Heloise.Nancarrow@health.wa.gov.au for queries.

Please submit your responses by C.O.B 6 December 2021.

To begin the consultation please use the link in the green box below.

What happens next

Your participation in the policy review will inform:

• Review of the RRAD policy to ensure consistent state-wide mandatory Policy Frameworks guidance
• Exploration of potential supporting programs to promote patient safety and reduce unwarranted clinical variation for acute deterioration.