Clear Patient Complaint and Safety Rules

Summary#

This bill updates Nova Scotia’s Patient Safety Act. It sets clear rules for how health authorities must handle complaints after a patient is harmed, and creates a committee to track and improve patient safety and care quality across the province.

• Defines “adverse event” as something that happens in a health authority that harms a patient’s health or quality of life.
• Requires every health authority to have a strong, easy-to-use complaint system for patients and families after an adverse event.
• When a complaint is made, the health authority must open an investigation file right away, stay in regular contact, and complete the investigation and resolution within timelines set by regulation.
• Creates a Patient Safety and Quality Advisory Committee appointed by the Minister of Health and Wellness.
• The committee will advise health authorities, track patient-safety indicators, recommend and help carry out improvements, consult with health profession regulators, and report yearly to the Minister.
• Lets the government set detailed rules by regulation, including how and how fast complaints must be handled, and what activities the committee must do.
• Makes minor wording updates to align terms with current practice.

What it means for you#

• Patients and families

  • Clear way to file a complaint if you or a loved one is harmed while getting care from a public health authority.
  • The health authority must open a file right away and keep you updated during the investigation.
  • Your complaint must be investigated and resolved within set time limits (to be defined in regulations).
  • The definition of “patient” includes people who tried to get care, not only those who received it.

• Health authority staff and administrators

  • Must maintain a comprehensive complaint and investigation system for adverse events.
  • Need to open investigation files immediately, communicate regularly with patients/families, and meet set timelines.
  • Will work with the new advisory committee on tracking safety measures and putting improvements in place.
  • Must follow future regulations on process and timelines.

• Health care professionals

  • May see more structured reporting, investigation steps, and follow-up after adverse events.
  • Could receive guidance and training tied to committee recommendations and identified best practices.

• Provincial government

  • The Minister will appoint the advisory committee and receive annual reports.
  • The department will set detailed rules for complaint handling and committee activities through regulations.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Gives patients and families a clear, timely path to raise concerns and get answers after harm.
• Improves transparency and accountability by requiring immediate files, regular updates, and set timelines.
• Uses data (patient-safety indicators) to find problems and spread effective practices across the system.
• A dedicated advisory committee keeps safety and quality improvements moving and consistent province-wide.
• Broader patient definition ensures more people are covered, including those who attempted to get care.

Opponents' View#

• Could add administrative burden to already stretched health authorities, taking time from direct care.
• Without extra funding, meeting strict timelines may be hard and lead to rushed or “check-the-box” investigations.
• A minister-appointed committee may be seen as not fully independent from government or health authorities.
• Overlap with existing patient relations or quality teams might create duplication or confusion.
• Details left to regulations mean key rules (like timelines) are unknown now, making it hard to judge real impact.