Category: Public Health

Victorian health services should be aware of significant upcoming changes to nurse-to-patient and midwife-to-patient staffing ratios. The Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Amendment Act 2026 (Vic) introduces hospital reclassifications and changes to emergency department categories that will affect staffing obligations across a range of hospitals. Our latest Legislative Compliance Alert outlines the key operational impacts and commencement dates.

The Supreme Court of Victoria authorised Alfred Health to retrieve sperm from a deceased man, confirming his partner as ‘senior available next of kin’ under the Human Tissue Act for consent purposes.

The ACT Supreme Court found Calvary Healthcare negligent for discharging a patient with unresolved pain and inadequate warnings about ectopic pregnancy risks, awarding over $118,000 for physical and psychological harm.

The 2025 amendments to Victoria’s Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act recognise paramedic practitioners as a new class of registered paramedics, granting them expanded authority to handle scheduled poisons under strict compliance obligations.

Victoria’s 2025 amendments strengthen nurse and midwife staffing ratios in ICUs, emergency, coronary care, high dependency, antenatal, and postnatal wards, with phased implementation requiring increased staffing to enhance patient safety and care.

From 21 March 2026, Australian public and private hospitals must report adverse events involving certain medical devices to the Department of Health, with penalties for non-compliance under the amended Therapeutic Goods Act.

The Federal Court penalises Medtronic for supplying an unregistered bone graft kit, violating the Therapeutic Goods Act. The case underscores the importance of strict compliance with medical device registration requirements and robust internal controls.

New legislation in the Australian Capital Territory broadens the range of healthcare professionals authorised to provide abortions, including nurse practitioners and authorised midwives. It also updates conscientious objection guidelines.