Hospital Acquired Complications (HACs) are a type of patient harm associated with increased morbidity and mortality, which also burden the health system and are an ongoing challenge in Australian hospitals. While the risk of HACs occurring during hospital admission is reduced with the use of clinical risk mitigation strategies, unwarranted clinical variation and shortcomings in hospital care can result in their continued development.

At a national level, legislation and policy exists to monitor, price and fund hospital safety and quality across Australia, including HACs.

HAC incidence data is routinely collected at the local hospital and local hospital network levels. It is then reported to state or territory authorities, and subsequently national organisations. However, national approaches to publishing HAC data have restricted its use as a mechanism for quality improvement and patient information.

Timely, comprehensive and cohesive publication of HAC data is crucial for comparison to local reporting to inform quality improvement and funding strategies to prevent HACs at hospital, state and national levels. Clinicians require contemporary information to adapt and change clinical care to improve patient outcomes, but in 2024, the national data is out-of-date and published across multiple websites.

Numerous barriers to publication exist, including complexities in the data and analysis, resourcing requirements and state and territory legislative restrictions, resulting in inadequate improvements to clinical care and HAC prevention. These issues are compounded by the lack of specific HAC data relating to processes of care and supporting policy and strategy.

The publication of HAC data should be co-designed for clinicians or patients. Patients have indicated they want more transparent and objective health care quality and safety information. However, this need is not being met for HACs, meaning patient choice around treatments and service providers is not informed.

Options for harnessing already collected HAC data, expanding on process of care data, and underpinning publication in policy and strategy are proposed to improve clinical care and prevent HACs. For patients, options for improving access to clear and comprehensive HAC data are recommended.