Medical Board of Australia

2015/16 Annual Report Summary

At a glance: Regulating medical practitioners in 2015/16

This annual report summary provides a snapshot of our work regulating more than 100,000 registered medical practitioners in the financial year to 30 June 2016.

A more detailed profile, encompassing data relating to all 14 National Boards in Australia, is published in AHPRA and the National Boards’ 2015/16 annual report

657,621 health practitioners in 14 professions registered in Australia in 2015/16

107,179 registered medical practitioners

This is 16.3% of the registrant base

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The number of registered medical practitioners grew by 4% from 2014/15

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41.5% women
58.5% men

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19,760 registered students; up 6%1

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16,203 new applications were received

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11,891 criminal history checks were carried out for medical practitioners, resulting in:

267 disclosable court outcomes, and

No regulatory action needed to be taken.

3,147 notifications (complaints or concerns)2 were lodged with AHPRA about medical practitioners

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2,718 notifications about medical practitioners were closed3

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202 complaints were made about possible statutory offences relating to medical services

128 statutory offence matters were closed

Note:

  1. Compared with 2014/15.
  2. This figure refers only to matters managed by AHPRA. See Table 6 for total notifications received about the profession, including matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority in NSW.
  3. This figure represents complaints managed and closed by AHPRA and excludes matters managed by the HPCA.

About this report

This report provides a profession-specific view of the Medical Board of Australia’s work to manage risk to the public and regulate the profession in the public interest in 2015/16.

The Board has worked in close partnership with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to provide all Australians with a safe, qualified and competent workforce in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme).

Information included in this report is drawn from the data published in the 2015/16 annual report by AHPRA and the National Boards, and is correct as at 30 June 2016.

Whenever possible, historical data are provided to show trends over time, as well as comparisons between states and territories.

For a wider context, and to compare the profession against national data from all 14 professions regulated by National Boards under the National Scheme, this report should be read in conjunction with the 2015/16 annual report. You can download the report.

Message from the Chair, Medical Board of Australia

Setting standards that all registered medical practitioners have to meet and managing risk to patients is an ongoing priority for the Board.

Each month, the Board sets policy and standards that define acceptable practice and makes decisions that shape the requirements of doctors in Australia. Each week, state and territory boards make decisions that affect the lives of individual doctors and patients in Australia.

Most medical practitioners in Australia provide highquality care to their patients and practise at a level well above the minimum safe standards required by the Board. In most cases, patients can be confident that the trust they place in their doctors is well founded. It is when a registered medical practitioner does not meet accepted standards that regulation matters most. At these times, the Board and AHPRA work together to assess and decide what, if anything, needs to be done to manage risk and keep patients safe.

This report outlines the work of the Board in 2016, with data about decisions and outcomes. Our focus in 2016/17 will shift slightly from managing existing risk to identifying risk early in order to improve patient safety.

I am grateful to state, territory and national Board members across Australia who work so hard for their communities by shaping or helping maintain professional standards and managing risk to patients. I thank the Board’s Executive Officer, Dr Joanne Katsoris, and her team for their enduring wisdom, integrity and diligence. AHPRA Chief Executive Officer Martin Fletcher and his team have again shown unswerving commitment, and the community has benefited from their intelligence, insight and effort.

photo of Joanna Flynn

Dr Joanna Flynn AM
Chair, Medical Board of Australia

Members of the National Board in 2015/16

  • Dr Joanna Flynn AM (Chair)
  • Associate Professor Stephen Adelstein1
  • Professor Belinda Bennett
  • Mr Mark Bodycoat1
  • Associate Professor Stephen Bradshaw AM
  • Ms Prudence Ford
  • Dr Samuel Goodwin1
  • Dr Fiona Joske
  • Dr Susan O’Dwyer2
  • Professor Constantine Michael AO1
  • Professor Anne Tonkin1
  • Ms Fearn (Michelle) Wright1
Appointed until 30 August 2015
  • Dr Charles Kilburn
  • Mr Paul Laris
  • Mr Robert Little
  • Dr Rakesh Mohindra
  • Professor Peter Procopis AM
  • Adjunct Professor Peter Wallace OAM

During 2015/16, the Board was supported by Executive Officer Dr Joanne Katsoris.

More information about the work of the Board, including codes, guidelines and information on registration standards, can be found on the Board website.

Note:

  1. Appointed 31 August 2015
  2. Appointed 1 March 2016

Board and national committee members 2015/16

The Medical Board of Australia values the contribution of our Board and committee members in every state and territory in Australia. Together, we make decisions to protect the public Australia-wide.

Members of the Australian Capital Territory Board

  • Dr Kerrie Bradbury (Chair)
  • Associate Professor Stephen Bradshaw (Chair) (until 30 August 2015)
  • Dr Emma Adams (from 1 July 2016)
  • Dr Tobias Angstmann
  • Dr Bryan Ashman
  • Ms Vicki Brown
  • Dr Janelle Hamilton (from 1 July 2016)
  • Mr Robert Little
  • Mr Donald Malcolmson
  • Dr Barbara Somi (until 30 June 2016)
  • Professor Peter Warfe

Members of the New South Wales Board

  • Dr Kerrie Bradbury (Chair)
  • Associate Professor Stephen Bradshaw (Chair) (until 30 August 2015)
  • Dr Emma Adams (from 1 July 2016)
  • Dr Tobias Angstmann
  • Dr Bryan Ashman
  • Ms Vicki Brown
  • Dr Janelle Hamilton (from 1 July 2016)
  • Mr Robert Little
  • Mr Donald Malcolmson
  • Dr Barbara Somi (until 30 June 2016)
  • Professor Peter Warfe

Members of the Northern Territory Board

  • Dr Charles Kilburn (Chair)
  • Mr John Boneham
  • Ms Helen Egan (until 29 February 2016)
  • Dr Paul Helliwell
  • Mr Garett Hunter
  • Dr Verushka Krigovsky
  • Ms Diane Walsh (until 29 February 2016)
  • Dr Christine Watson
  • Dr Sara Watson (until 29 October 2015)

Members of the Queensland Board

  • Adjunct Associate Professor Susan Young (Chair)
  • Dr Cameron Bardsley
  • Professor William Coman (until 27 May 2016)
  • Ms Christine Foley (until 23 December 2015)
  • Ms Christine Gee
  • Mr Gregory McGuire
  • Associate Professor Eleanor Milligan
  • Associate Professor David Morgan OAM
  • Dr Susan O’Dwyer
  • Dr Josephine Sundin (until 31 December 2015)
  • Dr Mark Waters (until 6 October 2015)

Members of the South Australian Board

  • Professor Anne Tonkin (Chair)
  • Dr Daniel Cehic (from 1 July 2016)
  • Mr Paul Laris
  • Professor Guy Maddern
  • Ms Louise Miller Frost (from 1 July 2016)
  • Dr Rakesh Mohindra
  • Dr Bruce Mugford
  • Dr Christine Putland (until 30 June 2016)
  • Dr Lynne Rainey
  • Dr Catherine Reid (until 30 June 2016)
  • Dr Leslie Stephan
  • Ms Katherine (Kate) Sullivan
  • Mr Thomas Symonds
  • Dr Mary White

Members of the Tasmanian Board

  • Dr Andrew Mulcahy (Chair)
  • Ms Kim Barker (until 31 October 2015)
  • Dr Brian Bowring AM
  • Mr David Brereton
  • Dr Kristen Fitzgerald
  • Dr Fiona Joske
  • Mr Fergus Leicester
  • Ms Leigh Mackey
  • Dr Colin Merridew
  • Dr Phillip Moore
  • Dr Kim Rooney
  • Dr David Saner

Members of the Victorian Board

  • Dr Peter Dohrmann (Chair)
  • Dr Christine Bessell
  • Dr John Carnie PSM
  • Mrs Paula Davey
  • Dr Tilak Dissanayake
  • Mr Kevin Ekendahl
  • Ms Jennifer Jaeger
  • Dr William Kelly
  • Associate Professor Abdul Khalid
  • Dr Alison Lilley
  • Mr Simon Phipps
  • Dr Miriam Weisz
  • Dr Bernadette White

Members of the Western Australian Board

  • Professor Con Michael AO (Chair)
  • Ms Nicoletta Ciffolilli
  • Dr Mark Edwards (from 29 May 2016)
  • Ms Prudence Ford (until 30 September 2015)
  • Dr Daniel Heredia (from 18 October 2015)
  • Dr Frank Kubicek (until 17 October 2015)
  • Dr Michael Levitt
  • Dr Michael McComish
  • Professor Mark McKenna
  • Professor Stephan Millett
  • Dr Steven Patchett
  • Mr John Pintabona (from 1 January 2016)
  • Ms Virginia Rivalland
  • Professor Bryant Stokes AM
  • Adjunct Professor Peter Wallace OAM

Finance Committee

  • Ms Prudence Ford
  • Dr Joanna Flynn AM
  • Associate Professor Stephen Bradshaw AM
  • Ms Michelle Wright
  • Mr Mark Bodycoat

National Specialist International Medical Graduate Committee

  • Dr Joanna Flynn AM
  • Ms Kym Ayscough
  • Dr Terry Brown
  • Dr Peter Dohrmann
  • Mr Robert Embury
  • Mr Ian Frank AM
  • Professor Gavin Frost
  • Dr Patrick Giddings
  • Dr Paul Helliwell
  • Dr Fiona Joske
  • Dr Joanne Katsoris
  • Dr Paddy Phillips
  • Dr Andrew Singer
  • Dr Christine Tippett
  • Ms Patti Warn
  • Dr Richard Willis
  • Professor Ajay Rane OAM
  • Ms Tarja Saastamoinen

Expert Advisory Group on Revalidation

  • Professor Liz Farmer
  • Professor Richard Doherty
  • Dr Lee Gruner
  • Dr Robert Herkes
  • Professor Michael Hollands
  • Professor Brian Jolly
  • Professor Kate Leslie AO
  • Professor Peter Procopis AM
  • Professor Pauline Stanton

Message from the AHPRA CEO and the Agency Management Committee Chair

Since the National Scheme began six years ago, AHPRA has worked in partnership with the National Boards to ensure that the community has access to a safe and competent health workforce across 14 registered health professions Australia-wide.

We rely on the expertise and insights of the National Boards to make decisions in the interests of the Australian public about the 657,621 health practitioners currently registered in Australia. It’s a role that Board members commit to with dedication and passion, and the community can be assured that its safety is always their number-one priority.

As at 30 June 2016, there were 107,179 registered medical practitioners, comprising 16.3% of all registered practitioners across the National Scheme. This is a significant proportion of the Australian health workforce, and consequently the work of the Medical Board of Australia is a hugely important and challenging task.

Consultation and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders is very important. In 2015/16 the Board worked with stakeholders including profession and community groups to further develop its regulatory work in partnership with AHPRA.

The Board has also recognised the importance of the health of registered medical practitioners and students by funding a new national doctors’ health program.

We’d like to thank the Board members for their continued commitment to ensuring a competent and flexible health workforce that meets the current and future health needs of the community.

We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the Board.

photo of Martin Fletcher

Mr Martin Fletcher,
Chief Executive Officer

photo of Michael Gorton

Mr Michael Gorton AM,
Chair, Agency Management Committee

Year in review: Medical Board of Australia

The past year has been a period of consolidation and growth for the Board, with a focus on progressing three new priority initiatives and improving existing processes and standards.

Priority initiatives

Cosmetic procedures: In May 2016, after extensive consultation, the review of hundreds of submissions and consideration of a wide range of options, the Board issued Guidelines for medical practitioners who perform cosmetic medical and surgical procedures.

The Board decided this was the most effective way to maintain professional standards and protect patients. Taking effect in October 2016, the guidelines mandate cooling-off periods for patients considering cosmetic procedures and clearly explain practitioners’ responsibilities.

Doctors’ health: The new structure for a nationally consistent doctors’ health program was established and new services began in most states and territories. The Board now funds a $2 million network of health services for doctors and students, which is delivered at arm’s length from the Board through Doctors’ Health Services Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

This service aims to support doctors and students and connect them to the services they need to maintain their health and wellbeing. The operation of the program will be closely monitored to ensure it is adequately resourced and operating effectively.

Revalidation: Revalidation is the process by which doctors demonstrate that they are continually keeping their skills up-to-date, so they can provide safe and ethical care to patients. The Board expanded its work in this area by:

  • publishing international research commissioned from the Collaboration for the Advancement of Medical Education Research and Assessment
  • establishing an Expert Advisory Group to provide advice on revalidation tailored to the Australian health context, and
  • commissioning social research into the views of medical practitioners and the community about what doctors should do to remain fit to practise during their working lives.

Improving standards

Nine new or revised standards, codes and guidelines were approved or took effect in 2015/16. In August 2015, the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council approved seven revised registration standards:

  • a revised standard for professional indemnity insurance (started in January 2016)
  • four revised standards for limited registration, which apply to international medical graduates (IMGs) who do not qualify for general or specialist registration (taking effect from 1 July 2016), and
  • revised standards for continuing professional development and recency of practice (taking effect from October 2016, to align with the registration renewal period).

The Board developed new guidelines, Short-term training in a medical specialty, for IMGs who are not qualified for general or specialist registration.

Revised guidelines, Supervised practice for IMGs, came into effect in January 2016. They are designed to make the Board’s expectations of IMGs, and their supervisors and employers, clearer. Supervision is a registration requirement for all IMGs who are granted limited or provisional registration.

Strengthening processes

In partnership with AHPRA, the Board continued to focus on improving notifications management, and the experience of notifiers and practitioners when they interact with AHPRA and the Board.

The Board trialled a new way to quickly conduct a preliminary assessment of complaints. This aims to triage the increasing volume of notifications and fast-track the management and closure of less complex matters, so Board members can focus on addressing matters that pose the greatest potential risk to the public.

A workshop was held with senior leaders from the Board, AHPRA and the AMA to explore new ways of improving practitioners’ experience of the notifications process.

Indigenous health

In September 2015, the Board approved the Australian Medical Council’s (AMC) new Standards for Assessment and Accreditation of Specialist Medical Programs and Professional Development Programs. They include new Indigenous health standards for specialist education.

A Board representative also sat on the AMC’s Indigenous Planning Advisory Group, which has been established to improve the Council’s engagement with Indigenous health organisations, students and medical practitioners.

A representative of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association has been invited to join the Board’s consultative committee for its priority initiative around revalidation.

Data snapshot: Regulation at work in 2015/16

The profession in brief

  • The number of medical practitioners grew by almost 4% year on year, to 107,179 in 2015/16.
  • New South Wales (NSW) was the principal place of practice for most of these practitioners (33,236); the Northern Territory (NT) was home to the smallest number (1,177).
  • The age bracket with the largest number of medical practitioners was 30–34 (14,536 registrants).
  • 1,542 practitioners were under 25 years of age; 1,251 were aged 80 or over.
  • Women made up 41.5% of the profession.

About our data

Data in this Board summary are drawn from the 2015/16 annual report, published by AHPRA and the National Boards. Data relating to medical practitioners have been extracted from national source data that include all 14 health professions currently regulated under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (the National Law), as in force in each state and territory.

In the following pages, you’ll find registration data, including registrant numbers by registration type, age and principal place of practice, as well as data about notifications (complaints or concerns) received about medical practitioners in the financial year to 30 June 2016. Data about statutory offence complaints are also included.

For a further breakdown of data from the 2015/16 annual report by AHPRA and the National Boards, including information on tribunals and panel hearings, criminal history checks and data on other professions, as well as summary reports by state and territory, go to the annual report website.

Notifications data

Notifications are complaints or concerns that are lodged with AHPRA about registered medical practitioners or students practising in Australia.

Our data generally excludes complaints handled by co-regulatory jurisdictions, such as in:

  • NSW, where complaints about medical practitioners with this state as their principal place of practice (PPP) are not managed by the Board and AHPRA, unless the conduct occurred outside NSW. Complaints about medical practitioners where the conduct occurred in NSW are handled by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) and the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), and
  • Queensland, where complaints are received and managed by the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) and may be referred to AHPRA and the relevant National Board. We are not able to report on all complaints about medical practitioners in Queensland because we only have access to data relating to matters referred to us by OHO.

Note that some NSW regulatory data published in this report may vary from data published in the HPCA’s annual report. This is due to subsequent data review by the HPCA after submission of initial data to AHPRA. For more information about how complaints about medical practitioners are managed in NSW, and for data about complaints made in the state, please refer to the HPCA website.

For data relating to complaints in Queensland that have not been referred to AHPRA, please refer to the OHO website.

Registration of medical practitioners

There were 107,179 medical practitioners registered across Australia as at 30 June 2016. This represents a national increase of 3.9% from the previous year.

Medical practitioners made up 16.3% of all registered health practitioners across the National Scheme. Of all registered medical practitioners:

  • 34.5% held general registration only, with this cohort increasing by 6.3% from the previous year
  • 47.2% held both general and specialist registration; an increase of 2.9%
  • 8.2% held specialist-only registration to practise in a medical specialty; an increase of 5.9%
  • 5.1% held provisional registration. Most of these are Australian graduates in their first postgraduate year and are in an accredited intern position while they progress towards being eligible for general registration. This category of registrants increased 15.1% from the previous year
  • 2.5% held limited registration, which allows internationally qualified medical practitioners to provide medical services under supervision. There were 21.7% fewer registrants in this category compared with 2014/15, and
  • 2.5% held non-practising registration. Under the National Law, practitioners with this type of registration cannot practise medicine. This cohort decreased by 0.3% this year.

At the end of 2015/16 there were 19,760 registered medical students; an increase of 5.8% on 2014/15.

The Board received 16,203 new applications for medical registration; an increase of 2.2% on 2014/15. Of these, 66.2% were for general or provisional registration and only 2.4% were applications to move to non-practising registration.

See Tables 1–5 for segmentation of registration data about medical practitioners.

Criminal history checks

As a standard part of the registration process, applicants for initial registration as a health practitioner in Australia must undergo a criminal record check. AHPRA requested 66,698 domestic and international criminal history checks for practitioners across all professions in 2015/16. Of these, 11,891 checks were carried out for practitioners wanting to register as medical practitioners. The checks resulted in 267 disclosable court outcomes. No conditions or undertakings were imposed on any practitioner’s registration as a consequence.

For source data on domestic and international criminal history checks, as well as more registration information across all regulated health professions, please refer to the 2015/16 annual report by AHPRA and the National Boards, which is published on 2015/16 annual report website.

Regulation of medical practitioners

Number of complaints

In 2015/16, there were 5,371 notifications (complaints or concerns) received nationally about medical practitioners, including HPCA data in NSW. This represents an increase of 18.3% from the previous year; much of which can be attributed to an increase in the number of matters referred to AHPRA in Queensland by the OHO in that state. AHPRA received and managed 3,147 matters (excluding NSW matters handled by the HPCA). Notifications about medical practitioners represent 52% of all notifications received by AHPRA (excluding HPCA data) during 2015/16.

Nationally, 5% of registered medical practitioners were the subject of a notification; compared with 1.5% of all registered health practitioners.

Immediate action

Immediate action was taken by the Board on 167 matters relating to medical practitioners in 2015/16 (compared with 132 instances in 2014/15). This excludes matters managed by the HPCA in NSW. A National Board has the power to take immediate action in relation to a health practitioner’s registration at any time, if it believes this is necessary to protect the public. Immediate action limits a practitioner’s registration by suspending or imposing conditions on it, or accepting an undertaking or surrender of registration from the practitioner or student. This is an interim step that Boards can take while more information is gathered or while other processes are put in place. To take immediate action, the Board must reasonably believe that:

  • because of their conduct, performance or health, the practitioner poses a ‘serious risk to persons’ and that it is necessary to take immediate action to protect public health or safety, or
  • the practitioner’s registration was improperly obtained, or
  • the practitioner or student’s registration was cancelled or suspended in another jurisdiction.
Mandatory notifications

There were 187 mandatory notifications made in 2015/16 (272 including HPCA data); up from 159 in 2014/15. Health practitioners and their employers have to report to AHPRA is a registered health practitioner has behaved in a way that is notifiable conduct. Notifiable conduct is defined as:

  • practising while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
  • sexual misconduct in the practice of the profession
  • placing the public at risk of substantial harm because of an impairment (health issue), or
  • placing the public at risk because of a significant departure from accepted professional standards.

Education providers also have mandatory notification obligations.

Closed notifications

AHPRA closed 2,718 notifications about registered medical practitioners in 2015/16 (excluding NSW practitioners managed by the HPCA). This represents 52% of all matters closed across all professions. Of the closed notifications included:

  • 10% resulted in conditions being imposed or an undertaking accepted by the Board
  • 12.1% resulted in the Board issuing a caution or reprimand to the practitioner
  • 1.6% resulted in suspension or cancellation of registration, and
  • 71.2% resulted in the Board taking no further action. In these cases, the Board decided that, based on available information, no further regulatory action was needed to manage ongoing risk to the public.

At the end of June 2016, there were 1,843 open notifications about registered medical practitioners.

Monitoring and compliance

There were 1,767 medical practitioners being actively monitored because of conditions placed on their registration (excluding those monitoring cases managed by the HPCA) at the end of 2015/16. Medical practitioners represented 35.6% of all monitoring cases managed by AHPRA across all professions.

Statutory offences

AHPRA received 202 new complaints about possible statutory offences relating to medical practice or medical practitioners. These complaints constitute 15% of all statutory offence matters received in 2015/16. Almost all new matters about medical practitioners related to the use of protected titles or advertising concerns. One hundred and twenty-eight statutory offence cases about medical practitioners were considered and closed by the end of 2015/16.

See Tables 6–25 for notifications data relating to medical practitioners.

Want to know more?

For more information, please refer to the full 2015/16 annual report and supplementary data tables published by AHPRA and the National Boards on the annual report website.

For an overview of the National Law as it applies to each state and territory, please see AHPRA's legisltaion.

Note:

  1. For data excluding monitoring cases managed by the HPCA, please refer to Table 13.
Table 1: Practitioner numbers at 30 June 20161
ACTNSWNTQLDSATasVicWANo PPP2Total
2015/162,04233,2361,17720,9497,8582,23626,06110,7562,864107,179
2014/151,97732,1831,10119,9197,7172,20325,02910,2462,758103,133
% change from 2014/153.30%3.30%6.90%5.20%1.80%1.50%4.10%5.00%3.80%3.90%
% of medical practitioners with a PPP in the state or territory1.90%31.00%1.10%19.50%7.30%2.10%24.30%10.00%2.70%100.00%
Medical practitioners as a % of all health practitioners in the state or territory18.00%17.40%17.00%16.40%14.80%15.80%15.40%16.00%17.00%16.30%
All health practitioners 2015/1611,362190,9866,913127,37653,11914,123169,47867,38416,880657,621

Note:

  1. Blank fields in tables denote zeros.
  2. No PPP (principal place of practice) includes practitioners with an overseas address.
Table 2: Practitioners by age
U-2525-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-7980+Not availableTotal
2015/161,54212,69714,53614,51613,17711,18510,4069,6547,5635,5323,3731,7471,251 107,179
2014/151,46711,91513,94014,00312,72110,87910,3269,3047,2055,3273,2111,6351,1982103,133
Age bracket as % of all medical practitioners1.40%11.80%13.60%13.50%12.30%10.40%9.70%9.00%7.10%5.20%3.10%1.60%1.20% 100.00%
All health practitioners 2015/1631,60184,96488,22375,40375,74671,61969,81971,75450,25924,8978,5333,1371,666 657,621
Medical practitioners as % of all practitioners4.90%14.90%16.50%19.30%17.40%15.60%14.90%13.50%15.00%22.20%39.50%55.70%75.10% 16.30%
Table 3: Medical practitioners by principal place of practice and gender
ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WANo PPP1Total 2015/16Total 2014/15% change 2014/15-2015/16
Medical practitioners2,04233,2361,17720,9497,8582,23626,06110,7562,864107,179103,1333.90%
Female92513,7625688,4403,17793711,0654,5601,05844,49242,1895.50%
Male1,11719,47460912,5094,6811,29914,9966,1961,80662,68760,9442.90%

Note:

  1. No PPP (principal place of practice) includes practitioners with an overseas address.
Table 4: Medical practitioners by principal place of practice and registration type
ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WANo PPP1Total 2015/16Total 2014/15% change 2014/15-2015/16
Medical practitioners2,04233,2361,17720,9497,8582,23626,06110,7562,864107,179103,1333.90%
General76411,8685097,3842,5576588,7033,71979136,95334,7676.30%
General (teaching and assessing) 11 123 82 3640-10.00%
General (teaching and assessing) and specialist 2       220.00%
General and specialist92316,5764019,3794,0121,10713,0874,42771050,62249,1992.90%
Limited406825243122087795374242,7053,455-21.70%
Non-practising326584275127534872058142,6552,663-0.30%
Provisional1121,447861,3293741211,199687535,4084,69715.10%
Specialist1711,9921252,1395652101,7821,3424728,7988,3105.90%

Note:

  1. No PPP (principal place of practice) includes practitioners with an overseas address.
Table 5: Medical practitioners with specialties at 30 June 20161
Medical practitioners ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WANo PPP2Total 2015/16Total 2014/15% change 2014/15-2015/16
Medical practitioners with a specialty1,20820,04656212,4915,0461,41116,1836,2481,26864,46362,4903.20%
Addiction medicine465228176301331681670.60%
Anaesthesia791,450359603671151,1215251304,7824,6273.30%
Dermatology61901864561414495285074.10%
Emergency medicine374673644311949464221681,9041,68712.90%
General practice4267,5932455,0961,9206225,8362,50522824,47123,9932.00%
Intensive care medicine2225110179701619378378568155.00%
Paediatric intensive care medicine 2 1 13  72250.00%
No sub-speciality declared2224910178701519078378498134.40%
Medical administration1210548614370298331334-0.90%
Obstetrics and gynaecology315671637915140519174551,9321,8713.30%
Gynaecological oncology 16 941124 46437.00%
Maternal-fetal medicine112183 95140400.00%
Obstetrics and gynaecological ultrasound 13 53 50327677-1.30%
Reproductive endocrinology and infertility 27 371142 54531.90%
Urogynaecology110 81 74 31303.30%
No sub-specialty declared294891534613338427156521,6851,6283.50%
Occupational and environmental medicine15891403176745133083022.00%
Ophthalmology153714165722124579199919672.50%
Paediatrics and child health398383046017538620275802,5552,4424.60%
Clinical genetics 16 4  51 26254.00%
Community child health221 122 1041524320.90%
General paediatrics266161933613130449180381,8251,7842.30%
Neonatal and perinatal medicine549228113422951741646.10%
Paediatric cardiology 817  1046363116.10%
Paediatric clinical pharmacology 1       110.00%
Paediatric emergency medicine 12 174 981514415.90%
Paediatric endocrinology113 81 441322623.10%
Paediatric gastroenterology and hepatology 5 31 84324234.30%
Paediatric haematology 5 2  31 111010.00%
Paediatric immunology and allergy16 24 6 1201717.60%
Paediatric infectious diseases 5132 611191618.80%
Paediatric intensive care medicine 3 3     6520.00%
Paediatric medical oncology 6 52 86 27258.00%
Paediatric nephrology 5 11 31 11837.50%
Paediatric neurology 17 511722353112.90%
Paediatric palliative medicine 1 1     220.00%
Paediatric rehabilitation medicine 5 11  1 8633.30%
Paediatric respiratory and sleep medicine19 81 44 27258.00%
Paediatric rheumatology 3 21 33 12120.00%
No sub-specialty declared3327121244322211561448.30%
Pain medicine388 563011513342762606.20%
Palliative medicine610845126126332103122975.10%
Pathology517151036315043467236382,0732,0093.20%
Anatomical pathology (including cytopathology)193054169621919899178928722.30%
Chemical pathology426 13722217495905.60%
Forensic pathology 1011352125 48480.00%
General pathology256119542673123125-1.60%
Haematology1117239041111344565134875.30%
Immunology648 12121201811181170.90%
Microbiology680139154463642312224.10%
No sub-specialty declared318 83 993534810.40%
Physician1932,977761,6638411732,8348112119,7799,4233.80%
Cardiology1941472691182133787411,3131,2515.00%
Clinical genetics 31 88 205 72711.40%
Clinical pharmacology114 1010 125355533.80%
Endocrinology13217711535112064956586304.40%
Gastroenterology and hepatology252522151641224466208368024.20%
General medicine333931936323535528136431,7851,7720.70%
Geriatric medicine1221629450111977366616098.50%
Haematology9175490381115540105325074.90%
Immunology and allergy760116142312441591543.20%
Infectious diseases995115827715534124083894.90%
Medical oncology10181210448112263776265847.20%
Nephrology131621178281016241175225073.00%
Neurology92121723871754495675463.80%
Nuclear medicine9105 32257612022612571.60%
Respiratory and sleep medicine10202412557131716276516313.20%
Rheumatology811624937710530113653494.60%
No sub-specialty declared613232998495814308311-1.00%
Psychiatry581,0782067028366997318753,5653,4323.90%
Public health medicine28134218229107643114344320.50%
Radiation oncology1313027319810520103803663.80%
Radiology506814442177456042451202,3682,2803.90%
Diagnostic radiology405983377163404902111012,0231,9513.70%
Diagnostic ultrasound 1    3  440.00%
Nuclear medicine538 5110366103186187-0.50%
No sub-specialty declared5441144245241615513812.30%
Rehabilitation medicine62252633881331664974735.10%
Sexual health medicine4581189124711231184.20%
Sport and exercise medicine1141111423910 1191190.00%
Surgery991,825371,0774591091,4844891325,7115,5692.50%
Cardio-thoracic surgery657 4012462137201205-2.00%
General surgery276501835415935533147511,9741,9362.00%
Neurosurgery779 47156701942472383.80%
Oral and maxillofacial surgery428229122281441231147.90%
Orthopaedic surgery26444829711825311135301,3941,3423.90%
Otolaryngology (head and neck surgery)915839245912045174984862.50%
Paediatric surgery436 15822684103104-1.00%
Plastic surgery612837042111404644504431.60%
Urology613518631101184074344183.80%
Vascular surgery472145175631932292223.20%
No sub-specialty declared 3812  13315861-4.90%

Note:

  1. The data above record the number of practitioners with registration in the specialist fields listed. Note that individual practitioners may be registered to practise in more than one specialist field.
  2. No PPP (principal place of practice) includes practitioners with an overseas address.
Table 6: Notifications received about medical practitioners, closed in 2015/16 and open at 30 June 2016, by state or territory1
ACTNSW2NTQLD3SATASVICWA No PPP4SubtotalHPCA5Total
Notifications received10558541,058379131953382273,1472,2245,371
% of all medical notifications2.00%1.10%1.00%19.70%7.10%2.40%17.70%7.10%0.50%58.60%41.40%100.00%
Mandatory received123 643117237318785272
% of all medical notifications4.40%1.10%0.00%2.20%15.80%4.00%26.50%13.60%1.10%68.80%31.30%100.00%
Notifications closed1096569729340136876369252,7181,9964,714
% of all medical notifications2.30%1.40%1.50%15.50%7.20%2.90%18.60%7.80%0.50%57.70%42.30%100.00%
Open at 30 June 201652292871020953528223111,8431,0392,882
% of all medical notifications1.80%1.00%1.00%24.60%7.30%1.80%18.30%7.70%0.40%63.90%36.10%100.00%

Note:

  1. Data relating to notifications (complaints or concerns) are based on the state or territory of the medical practitioner’s PPP (principal place of practice).
  2. Matters managed by AHPRA where the conduct occurred outside NSW.
  3. The number of matters referred to AHPRA and the National Board by the Office of the Health Ombudsman.
  4. No PPP includes practitioners with an overseas address.
  5. Matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
Table 7: Notifications received by state and territory; year on year comparison
ACTNSWNTQLDSATASVICWA No PPP1SubtotalHPCA2Total
Notifications about medical practitioners in 2015/16 (PPP)310558541,058379131953382273,1472,2245,371
Notifications about medical practitioners in 2014/15 (PPP)8328714493151161,033400192,5142,0274,541
Notifications about medical practitioners in 2014/15 (Responsible Office)492 904393241341,016419 2,5142,0274,541
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16 (PPP)26.50%107.10%-23.90%135.60%20.30%12.90%-7.70%-4.50%42.10%25.20%9.70%18.30%
All notifications5 received 2015/16 (PPP)206941231,9198082421,886718606,0564,02610,082
All notifications received 2014/15 (PPP)178531479346552151,889758554,8843,5428,426
All notifications received 2014/15 (Responsible Office)194 1789176762371,901781 4,8843,5428,426
Medical as % of all notifications received 2015/16 (PPP)51.00%61.70%43.90%55.10%46.90%54.10%50.50%53.20%45.00%52.00%55.20%53.30%
Medical as % of all notifications received 2014/15 (PPP)46.60%52.80%48.30%48.10%48.10%54.00%54.70%52.80%34.50%51.50%57.20%53.90%

Note:

  1. No PPP (principal place of practice) includes practitioners with an overseas address.
  2. Matters handled by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  3. For 2015/16, reporting of notifications is based on the practitioner’s PPP.
  4. Prior to this, notifications were based on the state or territory where the notification was handled (Responsible Office).
  5. ‘All notifications’ are the total number of notifications lodged with AHPRA about registered health practitioners in the 14 health professions regulated in the National Scheme.
Table 8: Percentage of practitioners with notifications received, by state or territory
ACT NSW (including HPCA)1 NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA No PPP2 Total
2015/16 (PPP)35.10%6.90%4.60%5.10%4.80%5.90%3.70%3.60%0.90%5.00%
2014/15 (PPP)4.20%6.40%6.40%2.30%4.10%5.30%4.10%3.90%0.70%4.40%
2014/15 (Responsible Office)44.70%6.30%8.20%2.20%4.20%6.10%4.10%4.10% 4.40%
All practitioners 2015/16 (PPP)1.80%2.20%1.80%1.50%1.50%1.70%1.10%1.10%0.40%1.50%
All practitioners 2014/15 (PPP)1.60%1.90%2.20%0.80%1.30%1.50%1.10%1.20%0.30%1.30%
All practitioners 2014/15 (Responsible Office)1.80%1.90%2.70%0.80%1.30%1.70%1.20%1.20% 1.30%

Note:

  1. Health Professional Councils Authority.
  2. No PPP (principal place of practice) includes practitioners with an overseas address.
  3. For 2015/16, notifications are based on the practitioner’s PPP.
  4. Prior to this, notifications were based on the state or territory where the notification was handled (Responsible Office).
Table 9: Open notifications at 30 June 2016, by state or territory
ACTNSW1NTQLDSATASVICWA No PPP2SubtotalHPCA3Total
2015/16 (PPP)452292871020953528223111,8431,0392,882
2014/15 (PPP)58244138916960448210121,4118012,212
2014/15 (Responsible Office)561 4239917969428233 1,4118012,212
% change 2014/15 to 2015/16 (PPP)-10.30%20.80%-31.70%82.50%23.70%-11.70%17.90%6.20%-8.30%30.60%29.70%30.30%
All cases open 2015/16 (PPP)11049681,2885641061,082495253,7872,0025,789
All cases open 2014/15 (PPP)1144484749446119940436262,9581,5734,531
All cases open 2014/15 (Responsible Office)121 90773462127918467 2,9581,5734,531
Medical as % of all open cases 2015/1647.30%59.20%41.20%55.10%37.10%50.00%48.80%45.10%44.00%48.70%51.90%49.80%

Note:

  1. Matters managed by AHPRA where the conduct occurred outside NSW.
  2. No PPP (principal place of practice) includes practitioners with an overseas address.
  3. Matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  4. For 2015/16, notifications are based on the practitioner’s PPP.
  5. Prior to this, notifications were based on the state or territory where the notification was handled (Responsible Office).
Table 10: Notifications closed, by state or territory
ACTNSW1NTQLD2SATASVICWA No PPP3SubtotalHPCA4Total
2015/16 (PPP)51096569729340136876369252,7181,9964,714
2014/15 (PPP)12155755903751191,128464272,9541,9314,885
2014/15 (Responsible Office)6141 1135903881451,107470 2,9541,9314,885
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16 (PPP)-9.90%18.20%-8.00%23.60%-9.30%14.30%-22.30%-20.50%-7.40%-8.00%3.40%-3.50%
All notifications closed 2015/16 (PPP)2061051441,3726872511,745654635,2273,6128,839
All notifications closed 2014/15 (PPP)2361401661,2407102362,123811675,7293,2749,003
All notifications closed 2014/15 (Responsible Office)267 2261,2587372672,154820 5,7293,2749,003
Medical as % of all notifications closed 2015/16 (PPP)52.90%61.90%47.90%53.10%49.50%54.20%50.20%56.40%39.70%52.00%55.30%53.30%
Medical as % of all notifications closed 2014/15 (PPP)51.30%39.30%45.20%47.60%52.80%50.40%53.10%57.20%40.30%51.60%59.00%54.30%
Medical as % of all notifications closed 2014/15 (Responsible Office)52.80% 50.00%46.90%52.60%54.30%51.40%57.30% 51.60%59.00%54.30%

Note:

  1. Matters managed by AHPRA where the conduct occurred outside NSW.
  2. Matters referred to AHPRA and the National Board by the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO).
  3. No PPP (principal place of practice) includes practitioners with an overseas address.
  4. Matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  5. For 2015/16, notifications are based on the practitioner’s PPP.
  6. Prior to this, notifications were based on the state or territory where the notification was handled (Responsible Office).
Table 11: Notifications closed, by stage at closure (excluding HPCA)1
Stage at closure2015/16 Medical practitioners2015/16 All health practitioners2014/15 Medical practitioners2014/15 All health practitioners
Assessment21,7393,1471,7063,069
Health or performance assessment3108341131440
Investigation6891,3868881,772
Panel hearing86179151269
Tribunal hearing9617478179
Total2,7185,2272,9545,729

Note:

  1. Excludes matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  2. Closed after initial assessment of the matter.
  3. Performance assessments are carried out by a Board-selected assessor whose scope of practice is similar to that of the practitioner being assessed (assessors are not Board members or AHPRA staff).
Table 12: Practitioners with mandatory notifications (including HPCA)1
Profession2015/16: No. practitioners2 - AHPRA2015/16: No. practitioners2 - HPCA2015/16: No. practitioners2 - Total2015/16: Rate/10,000 practitioners2014/15: No. practitioners2 - AHPRA2014/15: No. practitioners2 - HPCA2014/15: No. practitioners2 - Total2014/15: Rate/10,000 practitioners
Medical practitioners1718525623.91445219619
All registrants6053159201449129878912.4

Note:

  1. Excludes matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  2. Figures present the number of practitioners involved in the mandatory reports received.
Table 13: Mandatory notifications received, by state or territory (including HPCA)
ACTNSW1NTQLDSATASVICWA No PPP2SubtotalHPCA3Total
2015/16 (PPP)4123 643117237318785272
2014/15 (PPP)74 73956134215953212
2014/15 (Responsible Office)58 174275737 15953212
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16 (PPP)71.40%-25.00%0.00%-14.30%10.30%120.00%18.00%8.80%50.00%17.60%60.40%28.30%
All mandatory notifications received 2015/16 (PPP)449115205352241008641339980
All mandatory notifications received 2014/15 (PPP)17112161493017110616518315833
All mandatory notifications received 2014/15 (Responsible Office)20 41416034172114 518315833
Medical as % of all mandatory notifications received 2015/16 (PPP)427.30%33.30%0.00%40.00%21.00%31.40%32.10%37.00%37.50%29.20%25.10%27.80%
Medical as % of all mandatory notifications received 2015/16 (PPP)41.20%36.40%0.00%43.80%26.20%16.70%35.70%32.10%12.50%30.70%16.80%25.50%
Medical as % of all mandatory notifications received 2014/15 (Responsible Office)540.00% 25.00%50.00%26.30%20.60%33.10%32.50% 30.70%16.80%25.50%

Note:

  1. Matters managed by AHPRA where the conduct occurred outside NSW.
  2. No PPP (principal place of practice) includes practitioners with an overseas address.
  3. Matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  4. For 2015/16, notifications are based on the practitioner’s PPP.
  5. Prior to this, notifications were based on the state or territory where the notification was handled (Responsible Office).
Table 14: Outcomes of assessment for mandatory notifications, by grounds for the notification (excluding HPCA)1
Outcome of assessmentGrounds for notification: StandardsGrounds for notification: ImpairmentGrounds for notification: Sexual misconductGrounds for notification: Alcohol or drugsGrounds for notification: Not classifiedGrounds for notification: Total 2015/16Grounds for notification: Total 2014/15
End matter: No further action2234  33030
End matter: Health complaints entity to retain1    10
End matter: Dealt with as enquiry1    10
End matter: Caution111   127
End matter: Accept undertaking   1 13
End matter: Impose conditions     06
Total closed after assessment3650134546
Refer to further stage: Refer to health or performance assessment313  11719
Refer to further stage: Refer to investigation65155 186102
Refer to further stage: Refer to panel hearing     00
Refer to further stage: Refer to tribunal hearing     00
Total referred to further stage6828502103121
Total assessments finalised 2015/1610433515148 
Total assessments finalised 2014/151063514102 167

Note:

  1. Excludes matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  2. No further regulatory action is usually taken when, based on available information, the Board determines there is no risk to the public that meets the legal threshold for regulatory action. It may also be because a practitioner has taken steps to voluntarily address issues of concern.
Table 15: Outcomes at closure for mandatory notifications closed in 2015/16 (excluding HPCA)1
Outcome at closureTotal 2015/16Total 2014/15
No further action29798
Impose conditions3959
Caution2532
Accept undertaking1229
Suspend registration93
Fine registrant42
Cancel registration41
Reprimand24
Withdrawn10
Health complaints entity to retain10
Refer all or part of the notification to another body10
Not permitted to reapply for registration for 12 months or more10
Practitioner surrender of registration02
Total196230

Note:

  1. Excludes matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  2. No further regulatory action is usually taken when, based on available information, the Board determines there is no risk to the public that meets the legal threshold for regulatory action. It may also be because a practitioner has taken steps to voluntarily address issues of concern.
Table 16: Immediate action cases by state or territory (including HPCA)
Medical practitionersACTNSWNTQLDSATASVICWA No PPP1SubtotalHPCATotal
2015/16 (PPP)27314234458162167101268
2014/15 (PPP)1143272622731113267199
2014/15 (Responsible Office)311 1292932435 13267199
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16 (PPP)-36.40%-25.00%-66.70%55.60%30.80%100.00%114.80%-48.40%100.00%26.50%50.70%34.70%

Note:

  1. No PPP (principal place of practice) includes practitioners with an overseas address.
  2. For 2015/16, notifications are based on the practitioner’s PPP.
  3. Prior to this, notifications were based on the state or territory where the notification was handled (Responsible Office).
Table 17: Outcomes of immediate actions (excluding HPCA)1
Stage at closure2015/16: Medical practitioners2015/16: All registrants2014/15: Medical practitioners2014/15: All registrants
Not take immediate action36661445
Accept undertaking39673877
Impose conditions6622948124
Accept surrender of registration36 2
Suspend registration9742266
Decision pending14221022
Total167464132336

Note:

  1. Excludes matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
Table 18: Outcomes at closure for notifications closed (excluding HPCA)1
Stage at closure2015/16: Medical practitioners2015/16: All registrants2014/15: Medical practitioners2014/15: All registrants
No further action21,9363,4661,9593,439
Refer all or part of the notification to another body3453622
Health complaints entity to retain89120268435
Caution or reprimand329719353811
Accept undertaking68181103311
Impose conditions205580229612
Fine registrant55812
Suspend registration30461438
Practitioner surrender 6612
Cancel registration1334424
Not permitted to reapply for registration for 12 months or more5839
Proceedings withdrawn4914
Total2,7185,2272,9545,729

Note:

  1. Excludes matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  2. No further regulatory action is usually taken when, based on available information, the Board determines there is no risk to the public that meets the legal threshold for regulatory action. It may also be because a practitioner has taken steps to voluntarily address issues of concern.
Table 19: Outcomes of assessments finalised (excluding HPCA)1
2015/16: Medical practitioners2015/16: All registrants2014/15: Medical practitioners2014/15: All registrants
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further: Investigation9321,9758061,668
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further: Health or performance assessment7129573233
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further: Panel hearing9161013
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further: Tribunal hearing2329
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further: Subtotal1,0142,2898911,923
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment: No further action21,3752,3581,2482,136
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment: Health complaints entity to retain82109268435
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment: Refer all or part of the notification to another body2333210
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment: Dealt with as enquiry1347  
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment: Managed as a complaint by a co-regulator35  
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment: Managed as an offence under Part 7 of the National Law 7  
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment: Caution157367126322
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment: Accept undertaking19461959
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment: Impose conditions6116443104
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment: Practitioner surrender 2 3
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment: Subtotal1,7333,1381,7063,069
Total assessments finalised2,7475,4272,5974,992

Note:

  1. Excludes matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  2. No further regulatory action is usually taken when, based on available information, the Board determines there is no risk to the public that meets the legal threshold for regulatory action. It may also be because a practitioner has taken steps to voluntarily address issues of concern.
Table 20: Outcomes of investigations finalised (excluding HPCA)1
2015/16: Medical practitioners2015/16: All registrants2014/15: Medical practitioners2014/15: All registrants
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further: Assessment91612
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further: Health or performance assessment4111646145
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further: Panel hearing347986166
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further: Tribunal hearing4210067114
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further: Subtotal126311200427
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation: No further action24468386111,052
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation: Refer all or part of the notification to another body711411
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation: Dealt with as enquiry 1  
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation: Managed as a complaint by a co-regulator45  
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation: Health complaints entity to retain68  
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation: Caution129272173391
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation: Accept undertaking327242126
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation: Impose conditions6818958192
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation: Suspend registration11  
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation: Subtotal6931,3978881,772
Total investigations finalised8191,7081,0882,199

Note:

  1. Excludes matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  2. No further regulatory action is usually taken when, based on available information, the Board determines there is no risk to the public that meets the legal threshold for regulatory action. It may also be because a practitioner has taken steps to voluntarily address issues of concern.
Table 21: Outcomes from panel hearings finalised (excluding HPCA)1
Outcome2015/16: Medical practitioners2015/16: All registrants2014/15: Medical practitioners2014/15: All registrants
No further action218324063
Caution22393757
Reprimand711713
Accept undertaking11  
Impose conditions318865130
Practitioner surrender of registration 1 1
Refer all or part of the notification to another body   1
Suspend registration1124
Total80173151269

Note:

  1. Excludes matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  2. No further regulatory action is usually taken when, based on available information, the Board determines there is no risk to the public that meets the legal threshold for regulatory action. It may also be because a practitioner has taken steps to voluntarily address issues of concern.
Table 22. Outcomes from tribunal hearings finalised (excluding HPCA)1
Outcome2015/16: Medical practitioners2015/16: All registrants2014/15: Medical practitioners2014/15: All registrants
No further action21218515
Fine registrant55812
Caution or reprimand1024718
Accept undertaking1215
Impose conditions18283253
Practitioner surrender 356
Suspend registration28441233
Cancel registration1334424
Not permitted to reapply for registration for 12 months or more5839
Proceedings withdrawn4914
Total9617578179

Note:

  1. Excludes matters managed by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW.
  2. No further regulatory action is usually taken when, based on available information, the Board determines there is no risk to the public that meets the legal threshold for regulatory action. It may also be because a practitioner has taken steps to voluntarily address issues of concern.
Table 23: Active monitoring cases at 30 June 2016, by state or territory (excluding HPCA)
ACTNSW1NTQLDSATASVICWA No PPP2Total 2015/16Total 2014/15
Medical practitioners 2015/16345032237316341368242211,767 
Medical practitioners 2014/1530480334061703132321311 1,697
All practitioners 2015/161171,381551,0784521051,0326351084,963 
All practitioners 2014/151551,412741,18647210194855489 4,991
Medical as % of all practitioners 2015/1629.10%36.40%40.00%34.60%36.10%39.00%35.70%38.10%19.40%35.60% 
Medical as % of all practitioners 2014/1519.40%34.00%44.60%34.20%36.00%30.70%34.10%38.40%12.40% 34.00%

Note:

  1. AHPRA performs monitoring of compliance cases in ‘suitability/eligibility’ matter for NSW registrations. These cases also may include cases that are to be transitioned from AHPRA to the HPCA for conduct, health and performance streams. These do not refer to HPCA managed monitoring cases.
  2. No PPP (principal place of practice) includes practitioners with an overseas address.
Table 24: Active monitoring cases at 30 June 2016, by stream (excluding HPCA)1
ConductHealthPerformanceProhibited practitioner/studentSuitability/eligibility2Total
Medical practitioners 2015/16164244232521,0751,767
Medical practitioners 2014/15184284254 9751,697
All practitioners 2015/164026635502193,1294,963
All practitioners 2014/15482826600 3,0834,991
Medical as % of all practitioners 2015/1640.80%36.80%42.20%23.70%34.40%35.60%
Medical as % of all practitioners 2014/1538.20%34.40%42.30% 31.60%34.00%

Note:

  1. AHPRA reports by stream, rather than registrants being monitored, because a registrant may have restrictions (conditions or undertakings) in more than one stream. For example, nationally, 4,963 cases monitored by AHPRA relate to 4,861 registrants.
  2. AHPRA performs monitoring of compliance cases for ‘suitability/eligibility’ stream matters for NSW registrations.
Table 25: Statutory offence complaints received and closed, by type of offence and jurisdiction1
OffenceACTNSWNTQLDSATASVICWA No PPP2Total 2015/16Total 2014/15
Title protections (s.113-120): Closed1131121341246034
Title protections (s.113-120): Received 113141324184737
Practice protections (s.121-123): Closed      4  46
Practice protections (s.121-123): Received    11    21
Advertising breach (s.133): Closed 37 211021873813356
Advertising breach (s.133): Received  23 135278187640
Directing or inciting unprofessional conduct/professional misconduct (s.136): Closed        111
Directing or inciting unprofessional conduct/professional misconduct (s.136): Received          00
Other offence: Closed   2  1 146
Other offence: Received    1   2 33
Total 2015/16 (PPP)3: Closed15013511527864202 
Total 2015/16 (PPP)3: Received 1361197591436128 
Total 2014/15 (PPP)3: Closed21832043181421 103
Total 2014/15 (PPP)3: Received 2102122319922 81

Note:

  1. This table captures offence complaints by principal place of practice (PPP) and includes all offences from sections 113–116 of the National Law, not only offences about advertising, title and practice protection.
  2. AHPRA also receives offence complaints about unregistered persons where there is no PPP recorded. Only registered practitioners have a designated PPP.
  3. Based on state and territory of the practitioner’s PPP.