Health & Disability Commissioner

I am concerned about this organisation.

Highly problematic and shocking conduct.The way this office handled my complaint was unfair and illogical. Their decisions were inconsistent with the established facts, the code of rights, and medical case law. There was a degree of victim blaming present in their final opinion. This is not acceptable conduct for a quasi-judicial office that is supposed to form a key part of the healthcare provider regulatory system and be the gateway to closure for people who have suffered significant wrong-doings.

Corrupt; Refers complaints to medical practitioners that have already had a chance to resolve then ignores all continued correspondence. They protect, they don't oversee.

It is unfortunate that HDC is not competent to investigate medical negligence.It is a shame that HDC is a incompetent to save innocent New Zealanders from Clinical Negligence.

Abysmal organisation. 14 months later they are still only assessing our complaint. Appalling communication and updates. Be prepared for their ineptness and that you will need to constantly chase them up. They operate a monopoly and their service reflects this.09/10/2018 - update. Now THIRTY months since we lodge our complaint in April 2016 and the HDC has still not resolved our complaint. I did an OIA request and they only formally investigate an abysmally low 4% of all complaints received. And for the 4% that are formally investigated they take a woeful 24 months on average to conclude the complaint. In my opinion having dealt with the HDC for over 2.5 years they are heavily biased towards the providers.Be prepared for ineptness and incompetence and to wait a long long time.

NZ really should have medical boards doing this stuff as the Health & Disability Commissioner are all purpose and only push an ACT which is voluntary. Only extreme cases are taken seriously and any mishaps even including sexual harassment by a professional or misconduct is taken relatively lightly unless you got a video but even then... They get numbers and funding for these numbers but until there are a certain amount of numbers to place against one body or organisation, often little is done. The ACTS mean very little in NZ and they are NOT LAWFUL by any means. All is voluntary even for the provider or practitioner to be involved. They cannot make anyone do anything and they do not enforce a code of conduct or proper way to behave for providers. NZ really appears to have to get a lot of help to improve the services of health care professionals, esp HOSPITALS and many SPECIALISTS who happen to be some of the most brutal around. I HIGHLY SUGGEST to SEE SPECIALISTS who work out of PRIVATE HOSPITALS (at least part-time) as they will be much more professional and that is also my personal experiences. LOOK at online reviews before picking someone and do read them.

Shocking services. Definitely not there for people's rights. Will not allow me to contact them to point out the documents to prove I was right and doctors lied! Your rights are not practiced. End of story

I was very disappointed with the commission.My husband had a medical injury in Auckland city hospital.There was a letter written but gets filed as unresolved. Then where do you go?

Dear Commissioner, How can an independent medical assessor" (as identified and requird by law)