Health Services Act 1988

An authorised officer may at any time, with such assistance as he or she reasonably requires, for the purpose of ascertaining—

whether this Act and the regulations are being complied with; and

whether the agency or establishment is ensuring the well-being of persons accommodated in or receiving care from the agency or establishment—

inspect the premises; and

inspect, take possession of, make copies of or take extracts from any document; and

examine or seize any thing relevant to that purpose; and

require a proprietor or any member of staff of the health service establishment—

to answer a question to the best of that person's knowledge, information and belief;

to take reasonable steps to produce documents; and

ask questions of any person accommodated in or receiving health care from the agency or establishment for the purpose of ascertaining whether the person's well-being is being adequately cared for by the agency or establishment.

If any thing is seized by an authorised officer under subsection (1)—

the authorised officer must give notice of the seizure in the prescribed form to the person apparently in charge of it or, if there is no such person, to the proprietor of the premises; and

return the thing or document to the agency or establishment within 48 hours after it is seized.

If an authorised officer requires a person referred to in subsection (1)(ea) to answer a question to the best of that person's knowledge, information and belief, the authorised officer must advise the person that it is a reasonable excuse for that person to refuse to comply with the request if it would tend to incriminate that person.