In 2022/23, we received 410 complaints about care concerning COVID-19. This represented a 53% decrease on the 879 COVID-19 complaints received in 2021/22. COVID-19 related complaints made up around 12% of all complaints received by HDC in 2022/23, compared to 26% of all complaints received in 2021/22.
Common issues raised by complainants about COVID-19 2022/23 included:
- The impact of COVID-19 on the health and disability system (33%) — including delayed or restricted access to care and issues related to short-staffing
- Vaccine issues (28%) — many of these relate to concerns around adverse reactions to the vaccine and informed consent
- COVID-19 policies/procedures (23%) — these complaints primarily relate to visitor restrictions/access to support people, and infection control policies in health and disability settings
- Treatment of COVID-19 (15%) — including issues with care provided in COVID-19 isolation rooms and access to/use of anti-virals.