In general, the Commission’s decisions in relation to individual complaints are confidential and not made public. The persons and bodies involved in a particular complaint are notified of the Commission’s decision in writing.

When an investigation has substantiated significant issues in relation to a registered health practitioner, the Commission may consider disciplinary proceedings. Practitioners may be prosecuted before a Tribunal or a Professional Standards Committee. The outcomes of disciplinary proceedings before a Tribunal or a Medical Professional Standards Committee are generally publicly available.

With the introduction of the National Registration Scheme for health practitioners, matters that the Commission refers to the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Professional Standards Committee after 1 July 2010, will generally also be public and the decisions in these hearings will generally be publicly available.

The Commission can issue public statements in relation to unregistered health practitioners where it finds a breach of the code of conduct for unregistered health practitioners.

The Commission can also warn the public about a treatment or health service where it believes that this service poses a risk to public health and safety.

Tribunal decisions

Tribunal decisions are publicly available.

Professional Standards Committee decisions

Decisions of the Medical Professional Standards Committee are public. Decisions of the Medical Professional Standards Committee are generally public. Decisions in matters that were referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Professional Standards Committee after 1 July 2010 will also generally be made public.

Cancelled or suspended health practitioners

Only Tribunals have the power to cancel or suspend a health practitioner. Names of deregistered practitioners are made public.

Decisions regarding unregistered health practitioners

The Commission can also investigate complaints about any individual health service provider who is not required to be registered in NSW. The Commission may make a public statement and / or issue a prohibition order.

Public warnings about unsafe treatments or services

The Commission can make a public statement and /or warning when, following an investigation, it is of the view that a particular treatment or health service poses a risk to the public health and saftey.