The Top End Health Service (TEHS) is pleased to announce it was awarded three years accreditation by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards on Tuesday, 3 February.

Within TEHS, Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH), Gove District Hospital (GDH), Katherine Hospital (KH) and the Top End Mental Health Service underwent an Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) accreditation survey against the 10 national standards in November 2014.

Chief Executive of the Department of Health, Dr Len Notaras AM, TEHS Board Chair, Mrs Annette Burke and A/Chief Operating Officer TEHS, Michael Kalimnios congratulated all staff across the Top End for the concerted effort and team work exhibited in preparation for the accreditation survey.

“This nationally and indeed internationally recognised  accreditation survey, and the prestigious granting of ACHS Accreditation is historic, in that it was the first Top End survey completed under the new entity of TEHS and the challenge of preparing these integrated services for accreditation should not be underestimated,” Dr Notaras said.

“I commend the excellence and professionalism demonstrated by our TEHS to work as a team and clearly demonstrate the high quality of service we deliver in the Top End.”

Mrs Burke said the TEHS Board was extremely proud of the continued quality of service that TEHS provides through patient centred care, consumer participation and participation in training, to name a few.

“A total 209 core actions needed to be met to renew accreditation and the entire management and staff have accomplished an amazing feat to address the 10 National Safety and Quality in Healthcare Standards (NSQHS) across the three Hospitals and Mental Health,” Mrs Burke said.

“It is an outstanding effort for which TEHS can be proud and it reinforces that health care systems in the Top End are meeting contemporary national standards.”

Mr Kalimnios said the formal notification for the three year accreditation would come as no surprise following the verbal feedback from the survey team in November.

“While staff worked hard to prepare our healthcare facilities in Darwin, East Arnhem and in the Katherine Region, the daily delivery of high healthcare standards was clear to our visiting survey team and it comes as no surprise to staff that we comply with the 10 NSQHS,” Mr Kalimnios said.

Primary Health Care has now been incorporated into TEHS and will be integrated into the accreditation scheme which is next due in 2018.

 Media Contact: Golden Noble-Harris 0419 818 414