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Data Supply Requirement Detail

Legionella Periodic (Quarterly) Reporting Data Supply Requirement (DSR)
Identifying and Definitional Attributes
QH 020294 v1
Data Supply Requirement
Qld Legislation
Current
15-Sep-2017
Documented
Executive Director, Health Protection Branch
01-Jul-2017
Under Section 61I of the Public Health Act 2005 periodic (quarterly) reports, summarising the results of prescribed tests taken for Legionella under a Water Risk Management Plan (WRMP) must be submitted to the Department of Health. This DSR outlines the requirements for Legionella periodic (quarterly) reporting.
Periodic reports
Collection and Usage Attributes
1. Ensure a prescribed facility improves its management and control of health risks associated with the supply and use of water (in particular health risks associated with Legionella).

2. Provide a greater public transparency of water testing activities being undertaken by prescribed facilities.
From 1 February 2017, public hospitals with inpatients, public residential aged care facilities, and private health facilities licensed under the Private Health Facilities Act 1999 are required to submit periodic reports, summarising the results of prescribed tests taken for Legionella in accordance with a facility's WRMP.

The person in charge of a facility must submit the report within 30 business days from the end of the reporting period by:
a) Completing the Periodic reporting under the water risk management provisions of the Public Health Act 2005
b) Emailing the form to legionella@health.qld.gov.au.

Private residential aged care facilities are not yet required to submit periodic reports to the Department of Health.
OFFICIAL
A 'prescribed facility' means:
- a public sector hospital that provides treatment or care to inpatients; or
- a private health facility licensed under the Private Health Facility Act 1999; or
- a State aged care facility; or
- a residential aged care facility, other than a State aged care facility, prescribed by regulation.

A 'prescribed test' for Legionella is a test that:
- quantifies the number of Legionella colony forming units in the sample tested; and
- is carried out by a laboratory accredited as complying with the international standard ISO/IEC 17025, and
- is a test identified in the scope of the laboratory'ss accreditation.

Legionella are a class of bacteria found in the natural environment around the world. There are over 50 species of Legionella bacteria, some of which can cause disease in humans. The most common disease causing species are Legionella pneumophila and Legionella longbeachae.

Most Legionella species, including Legionella pneumophila, thrive in warm water, and need the presence of other organisms (e.g. amoebae) to multiply. They grow readily in man-made environments such as inside plumbing fixtures and pipes, where warm temperatures and the build-up of nutrients and microorganisms on surfaces (called biofilm) provide an ideal environment.

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella. Humans might contract this disease by inhaling microscopic/ invisible droplets (aerosols) of contaminated water from man-made systems such as hot or warm water systems, showerheads, spa baths and fountains.
While most people are unlikely to get Legionnaires' disease, some groups are more at risk than others. It is not spread person-to-person.

Under Section 61I of the Public Health Act 2005 periodic (quarterly) reports, summarising the results of prescribed tests taken for Legionella under a Water Risk Management Plan (WRMP) must be submitted to the Department of Health.

Data submitted in a periodic reporting form under the WRMP provisions of the Public Health Act 2005 must only relate to samples taken from infrastructure and/or fixtures covered by the facility's WRMP. The periodic report must not include data that relates to samples taken from infrastructure or fixtures not covered by the facility's WRMP. For example, it must not include sampling data that relates to cooling towers unless the cooling towers are covered by the facility's WRMP.

A quarter means a three month period ending on:
Q1 - 31 March
Q2 - 30 June
Q3 - 30 September
Q4 - 31 December

Particular information within a periodic report can be published externally, so every effort should be made by a prescribed facility to adhere to the data set attributes listed within the data elements for what is required to be supplied. It is also essential to have appropriate senior management clearance on the contents of the report prior to submission.

The chief executive of the Hospital and Health Service has accountability for ensuring that a facility operates in accordance to its WRMP. Should the number of samples taken be less than what was required under the plan, the chief executive should be advised of this prior to submission of the report.

A 'business day' means a day that is not a Saturday or Sunday or a public holiday, special holiday or bank holiday.
Data is collected by completing the approved form: Periodic reporting under the water risk management provisions of the Public Health Act 2005.
Data is supplied quarterly by public hospitals with inpatients, public residential aged care facilities, and private health facilities licensed under the Private Health Facilities Act 1999.
Relational Attributes
Related Metadata References

Related Metadata References_IR

  • 1 - 1
ViewRelationshipMetadata Item TypeMetadata Item SubtypeNameIdentifier & VersionApproval Status
Relates toData Supply RequirementQld LegislationNotifying a Detection of Legionella Data Supply Requirement (DSR)QH 020295 Version 1Current
Implementation in Metadata Sets

Implemented

No Metadata Items
Included Data Elements and Performance Indicators

Included DE

  • 1 - 10
ViewMetadata Item TypeMetadata Item SubtypeNameIdentifer & VersionObligationApproval StatusEffective FromEffective To
Data ElementData ElementFacility (address)-Australian postcodeQH 041836 Version 1MandatoryCurrent01-Jul-2017
Data ElementData ElementFacility (address)-email addressQH 041840 Version 1MandatoryCurrent01-Jul-2017
Data ElementData ElementFacility (address)-suburb/town/locality nameQH 041835 Version 1MandatoryCurrent01-Jul-2017
Data ElementData ElementFacility (address)-telephone numberQH 041838 Version 1MandatoryCurrent01-Jul-2017
Data ElementData ElementFacility (name)-formal facility nameQH 041880 Version 1MandatoryCurrent01-Jul-2017
Data ElementData ElementPerson (name)-family nameQH 040002 Version 5MandatoryCurrent20-Mar-2018
Data ElementData ElementPerson (name)-family nameQH 040002 Version 4MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201719-Mar-2018
Data ElementData ElementPerson (name)-given nameQH 040003 Version 6MandatoryCurrent18-Jul-2023
Data ElementData ElementPerson (name)-given nameQH 040003 Version 5MandatorySuperseded20-Mar-201817-Jul-2023
Data ElementData ElementPerson (name)-given nameQH 040003 Version 4MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201719-Mar-2018
Source and Reference Attributes
Department of Health (DoH)
Periodic reporting under the water risk management provisions of the Public Health Act 2005
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/644426/legionella-periodic-report-form.pdf