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Review of the Act and Code 2009

Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson completed a third review of the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994 (the Act) and the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (the Code). The Act requires the Commissioner to regularly review the Act and Code, consider whether any changes are necessary or desirable, and report the findings to the Minister of Health.

The Commissioner's report to the Minister is available to download in PDF (667Kb) and Word (682Kb). It is also available in an easy-read version in PDF (226Kb) and Word (166Kb)

The report was tabled by the Minister in Parliament on 6 August 2009.

Background
The review process started in August 2008 when invitations were sent out to key stakeholders asking for preliminary feedback on the operation of the Act and Code. Those comments, together with the Commissioner's own views, were compiled in a consultation document that was distributed and published on 1 December 2008.

Download consultation document (PDF,1426Kb)
Download consultation document (Word, 1706Kb)
Download Full Easy Read Consultation Document (PDF, 261Kb)

Submissions were invited on this consultation document from interested organisations and individuals, as well as from the public, by 28 February 2009. Submissions could be made orally (via the HDC 0800 line) or in writing (via letter, a submission form downloaded from the website, or email). Public consultation meetings were proposed but were not held due to lack of numbers registering interest. However, two forums were held in Auckland in early 2009 focusing on the possible changes in relation to disability consumers' rights.

122 submissions were received, which generally supported the Commissioner's view that the Act and Code are working well. There was, however, significant support for some changes to better protect and promote health and disability service consumers' rights.