Patient Safety Act

CHAPTER 13

OF THE

ACTS OF 2012

amended 2014, c. 32, ss. 148-150

NOTE - This electronic version of this statute is provided by the Office of the Legislative Counsel for your convenience and personal use only and may not be copied for the purpose of resale in this or any other form. Formatting of this electronic version may differ from the official, printed version. Where accuracy is critical, please consult official sources.

An Act to Improve Patient Safety
and Health Systems Accountability

Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Patient Safety Act. 2012, c. 13, s. 1.

Interpretation

2 In this Act, "health authority" has the same meaning as in the Health Authorities Act. 2014, c. 32, s. 148.

Supervision of Act

3 The Minister of Health and Wellness is responsible for the general supervision and management of this Act. 2012, c. 13, s. 3.

Reporting in accordance with protocols

4 (1) A health authority shall compile and report hand-hygiene adherence rates in accordance with a protocol established by the regulations.

(2) A health authority shall compile and report other patient-safety indicators prescribed by the regulations in accordance with protocols established by the regulations. 2012, c. 13, s. 4; 2014, c. 32, s. 149.

Regulations

5 (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations

(a) establishing a protocol for health authorities with respect to hand-hygiene adherence, including requirements for health authorities to compile and report hand-hygiene adherence rates;

(b) prescribing other patient-safety indicators for the purpose of the Act;

(c) establishing protocols for health authorities with respect to other patient-safety indicators, including requirements for health authorities to compile and report with respect to those indicators;

(d) governing the form and manner of reporting for the purpose of this Act;

(e) adopting or incorporating by reference, in whole or in part or with modifications, a written standard, protocol, rule, regulation, guideline, code or document as it reads on a date prescribed by the regulations or as it is amended from time to time;

(f) defining any word or expression used but not defined in this Act;

(g) respecting any matter or thing the Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to effectively carry out the intent and purpose of this Act.

(2) The exercise by the Governor in Council of the authority contained in subsection (1) is regulations within the meaning of the Regulations Act.2012, c. 13, s. 5; 2014, c. 32, s. 150.

__________

[home] [up]

 

This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2025 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created November 6, 2025. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.