South Australian Current Regulations

HEALTH CARE REGULATIONS 2023 - REG 12

12—Appointment of RCA teams

        (1)         For the purposes of section 69(2) of the Act, the following requirements are prescribed:

            (a)         an RCA team is to consist of not less than 3 members;

            (b)         the leader of an RCA team must have completed a formal training course in root cause analysis;

            (c)         at least 1 member of an RCA team must have a formal tertiary qualification in a health related field or significant experience in a health related field relevant to the investigation;

            (d)         each member of an RCA team must have knowledge and understanding of the member's obligations under Parts 7 and 8 of the Act.

        (2)         For the purposes of section 69(5) of the Act, the following procedures and processes are adopted in relation to the conduct of an investigation:

            (a)         in the case of an RCA team appointed in relation to a hospital incorporated under the Act or SAAS—the RCA team must commence the investigation within 14 days after its appointment;

            (b)         in the case of an RCA team appointed in relation to a hospital incorporated under the Act or SAAS—the RCA team must provide any part of the report referred to in regulation 14—

                  (i)         within 10 weeks after the commencement of the investigation; or

                  (ii)         with the written consent of a member of the Safety and Quality Unit of the Department, within 20 weeks after the commencement of the investigation or such longer period as may be allowed under the terms of the consent;

            (c)         if an RCA team member becomes aware that they have, or may have, a direct or indirect personal or pecuniary interest in an adverse incident under investigation or to be investigated by the team, the following procedure is adopted:

                  (i)         the member must, as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of the interest, disclose in writing to the designated authority full and accurate details of the interest; and

                  (ii)         the member is, subject to the designated authority's determination, precluded from taking part or taking further part in the investigation into the incident or the preparation of reports in relation to the incident.

        (3)         For the purposes of subregulation (2)(c) but without limitation, an RCA team member will be taken to have an interest in an adverse incident if a relative of the member or of the member's spouse or domestic partner has an interest in the incident.