North Midlands hospital gets ACHS accreditation

22/4/93

Country hospitals throughout the Mid-West and Gascoyne health region have been praised by Health Minister Peter Foss for their achievements in the quality of patient care.

At Three Springs today, Mr Foss presented an Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS) accreditation certificate to the North Midlands district hospital.

The hospital took its first steps toward accreditation early in 1991, with the introduction of a quality assurance plan.

The accreditation survey was undertaken late last year - a voluntary process whereby healthcare facility operators agreed to have their organisational structures and provision of care services evaluated against contemporary high standards of practice.

The ACHS surveys some 160 public and private healthcare facilities each year.

"Attaining accreditation requires a very high degree of quality in the management of the healthcare facility, by its staff and in the delivery of the services to patients and the community," Mr Foss said.

"The award is a great credit to the hospital board and everyone associated with the operation of the hospital.

"I must also take the opportunity to congratulate the Morawa district hospital, which recently achieved similar accreditation.

"I welcome both hospitals' achievements and am sure they give considerable confidence to the communities they serve."

Mr Foss said hospital managements at Carnarvon, Exmouth, Meekatharra and Northampton were currently working toward similar accreditation.

Media contact: Tony Robertson (09) 222 9595