Apply for a healthcare facility licence

This page has information about applying for a healthcare facility licence, including how to vary or transfer your license.

Healthcare facilities in the ACT must be licensed under the Public Health Act 1997.

How to apply for a licence

There are two ways to apply:

• apply online
• or print, fill out and return this form. Contact hps@act.gov.au or call 02 5124 9700.

Find out about healthcare facility licence fees.

Vary your licence

There are two ways to vary your licence:

• vary your licence online
• or print, fill out and return this form. Contact hps@act.gov.au or call 02 5124 9700.

Transfer ownership

There are two ways to transfer ownership of your facility.

• transfer ownership online
• or print, fill out and return this form. Contact hps@act.gov.au or call 02 5124 9700.

What is a health facility

A healthcare facility is defined under the Public Health (Health Care Facility) Risk Declaration 2021 as a premises where:

• certain public health risk procedures are performed
• overnight inpatient services are provided under the care of a registered medical professional.

What isn't a healthcare facility

The following are not defined as a healthcare facility:

• a residential care facility within the meaning of the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cwlth)
• crisis accommodation
• a veterinary clinic
• a private residence
• a patient transport service or any premises operated by, or on behalf of, the Commonwealth.

Public health risk procedures

These include:

• administration of general, epidural, or major regional anaesthetic block (excluding mandibular blocks) or intravenous sedation
• cardiac catheterisation
• chemotherapy (cytotoxic infusion)
• abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
• belt lipectomy
• brachioplasty (armlift)
• bicep implants, tricep implants, calf implants, deltoid implants, pectoral implants
• breast augmentation or reduction
• buttock augmentation, reduction or lift
• facelift, other than a mini-lift, that does not involve the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS)
• facial implants that involve inserting an implant on the bone, or surgical exposure to deep tissue
• fat transfer that involves the transfer of more than 100 millilitres litres of lipoaspirate
• labiaplasty
• liposuction that involves the removal of more than 1000 millilitres of lipoaspirate
• mastopexy or mastopexy augmentation
• monsplasty
• neck lift
• penis augmentation
• rhinoplasty
• vaginoplasty
• gastrointestinal endoscopy
• renal dialysis (haemodialysis).

Code of practice

The minimum standards to operate a healthcare facility are set out in the Healthcare Facility Code of Practice 2021. The code is enforced under the Public Health Act.

It aims to protect the community from the public health risks of operating and managing healthcare facilities.

Participation in both of the following is required under the code of practice.

• Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation Scheme
• National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.

Healthcare facility annual report template

The Healthcare Facility Annual Report template is used by a licensed health care facility to fulfil their Preparation of Annual Reports requirements in Standards 5.5 and 5.6 of the Healthcare Facility Code of Practice 2021.

Download the Healthcare Facility Annual Report template.

Incident notification

You must notify the Chief Health Officer within 2 business days if any of the following happen:

• the transfer of a patient to another health care facility as a result of an injury sustained at the facility, or iatrogenic condition
• any critical incident that might reasonably place facility systems or its occupants including staff at risk. For example: flood, fire, building or structural collapse, serious equipment failure or shortage, sustained power or water failure
• the unexpected death of any patient under the care of the facility
• any incident listed under the Australian sentinel events list.

A report must be prepared for the Chief Health Officer for notified incidents providing further details about the notifiable incident within 100 days of the incident occurring. Health care facility licence holders and public health care facilities should use the Notifiable Incident Review Report template to ensure they meet all notifiable incident reporting requirements.

It is strongly advised that healthcare facility licence holders and public health care facilities conduct a post 6-month investigation incident recommendations implementation review. This review should determine whether the resulting incident investigation recommendations have been implemented and are effective.

To assist healthcare facility licence holders with post incident reviews you can use the Notifiable Incident Recommendations Implementation Report template.

For more information about notifiable incidents refer to the code of practice.

How to notify

If you are a healthcare facility licence holder use the HCF Notifiable Incident Notification Form (licensed).

If you are a public healthcare facility use the Healthcare Facility Incident Notification Form (non-licensable).

Check you meet all notification requirements by reviewing the form that is relevant to you.

For more information about notifiable incidents go to code of practice.

Building or modifying a healthcare facility

The ACT Health doesn't provide advice on:

• the design, construction or operation of a healthcare facility
• the application of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.

Under the code of practice, you should engage a qualified and experienced person to provide advice on addressing risks at your facility.

You are strongly encouraged to contact the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate and Access Canberra for information about planning and constructing buildings in the ACT.

Contact the Health Protection Service

To contact the Health Protection Service:

• visit their office between 9:00am and 4:30pm on weekdays
• phone them on 02 5124 9700
• email them on hps@act.gov.au
• send mail to Locked Bag 5005, Weston Creek ACT 2611.