10 December 2008
Standards New Zealand has published the revised NZS 8134:2008 Health and disability services Standards, with congratulations from Grey Power.
‘Grey Power applauds the revised Standards in Health and Disability services that have been approved, and will be mandatory from 1st June 2009,’ says Dick Stark, committee member and Convenor of Health NZ Grey Power Federation. ‘A thorough review has been undertaken, and many of the anomalies that were of concern to the retired people in the community, have been addressed.’
The revised Standards will be mandatory for those rest homes, health and disability services, residential services, mental health services, and hospitals required to comply with the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001.
‘On behalf of the elderly, the retired, and the community, Grey Power welcomes this review and congratulates all who have given their time and their knowledge to produce these Standards,’ says Dick. ‘The revised Standards set will enable the families of the consumers to be more involved in the care giving process, and able to contribute more to rest home and retirement village audits. Grey Power hopes that there will be more non-notified audits conducted.’
‘Families must be aware of the rights of the consumer, and be reassured that the service providers are proficient and have a full understanding of their responsibilities. It is with high hopes that the revised Standards, once implemented, will alleviate many of the issues of concern that were previously experienced, and that a new confidence will be generated that will benefit all aspects of this much needed service.’
The revised Standards establish safe levels of care for consumers, set out the rights of consumers, and ensure service providers are clear about their responsibilities for good outcomes. The revision reduced duplicated content between the four health Standards published in 2001, and the revised Standards are simpler to use, and reflect current best practice.
‘Health providers can use the Standards to streamline the auditing process used to comply with the Act, and to remain up to date with best practice,’ says Gillian Grew, Chief Advisor (Services), at the Ministry of Health. ‘Other health and disability services should also consider adopting the Standards.’
The four parts of the revised Standards are available as a set or separately. Each part should be read in conjunction with Part 0.
- NZS 8134.0:2008 Health and disability services (general) Standard, contains general and reference information, including definitions and the audit framework. It replaces the general information from NZS 8134:2001, NZS 8141:2001, NZS 8142:2000 and NZS 8143:2001.
- NZS 8134.1:2008 Health and disability services (core) Standards, contains required outcomes, Standards, and criteria. They replace NZS 8134:2001 and NZS 8143:2001.
- NZS 8134.2:2008 Health and disability services (restraint minimisation and safe practice) Standards, are intended to reduce the use of restraint in all its forms and to encourage the use of least restrictive practices. They replace NZS 8141:2001.
- NZS 8134.3 Health and disability services (infection prevention and control) Standards, are designed to reduce the rate of infections in the health and disability sector. They replace NZS 8142:2000.
The Standards are available from Standards New Zealand: www.standards.co.nz (keyword 8134), or call the customer services team on 0800 782 632.
Get the latest news about Standards at www.standards.co.nz/touchstone.
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For more information please contact Shona Weller:
D +64 4 498 3986
E shona.weller@standards.co.nz
W www.standards.co.nz