Health and Disability Commissioner: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn how to access independent advocacy and complaint resolution services if you have concerns about your health or disability services.
The Health and Disability Commissioner is an independent body that provides support for people who have concerns about the care they have received. This service offers independent advocacy and help with complaint resolution for those navigating the health and disability sectors.
Who it's for
This scheme is available to any patient who is currently receiving health or disability services. If you are receiving care through a medical provider or a disability support service, you are eligible to use this service to ensure your rights are being respected and that the standards of care meet the necessary requirements.
What you get
The primary benefit of this service is access to independent advocacy and complaint resolution. Advocacy means having a person or service help you voice your concerns, communicate your needs to providers, and navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. If you have a formal complaint regarding the treatment or support you have received, the commissioner provides a process to resolve these issues through independent investigation and mediation.
What it costs you
There is no financial cost to access this service. It is free for patients to engage with the commissioner to seek advocacy or to lodge a formal complaint regarding their health or disability services.
The catch to know
When preparing a complaint, it is helpful to remember that the commissioner focuses specifically on whether your rights and professional standards were upheld. This means the service is designed to look at how you were treated and whether the service provider met their obligations, rather than focusing solely on clinical outcomes or whether a medical treatment was successful.
How to apply
- Identify the specific health or disability service that has caused your concern.
- Reach out to the commissioner to initiate an HDC complaint.
- Share the necessary details regarding your experience and the specific rights you feel were not met.
- Engage with the provided advocacy or resolution processes to work toward a solution.