The NSW Health Safety Alert Broadcasting System (SABS) is a component of the knowledge management strategy under the NSW Patient Safety and Clinical Quality Program, (PSCQP) launched by the Minister for Health in 2004.
The SABS has been developed to provide a systematic approach to the distribution and management of patient safety information to the NSW health system. The SABS consists of three components to provide local health district/specialty health networks with early warnings / notifications of issues which will potentially impact on patient safety and clinical quality.
A safety alert quickly disseminates information to NSW local health district/specialty health networks about a safety matter needing immediate attention and action. Each Alert specifies action to be taken by local health district/specialty health networks, the timeframes in which such actions should occur, and assign responsibility for action. The colour coding for safety alerts is red.
For a safety alert, local health district/specialty health networks are required to:
A safety notice informs NSW local health district/specialty health networks about potential quality and safety issues requiring risk assessment at the local level. The safety notice is also used to highlight identified problems. The colour coding for safety notices is amber.
For a safety notice, local health district/specialty health networks are required to:
The aim of safety information is to disseminate quality and safety news to NSW local health district/specialty health networks to ensure lessons learned are being spread across NSW Health. The content of the safety information includes items such as updates on the initiatives implemented under the Patient Safety and Clinical Quality Program and information about policy directives and guidelines.
The colour coding for the safety information is green.
For a safety information, local health district/specialty health networks are required to:
NSW Health staff can submit information for a SAB to be produced by using the online form on the Intranet.