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Make a complaint to HDC

Date: 12 Aug 2024

If you’re unhappy about a health or disability service you or someone else has received, you have the right to complain to HDC. Before making a complaint, you may wish to talk to the person or organisation you’re unhappy with. This is often the quickest and easiest way to address your concerns.

HDC works hard to resolve complaints in a fair, timely, and effective way. Unfortunately, owing to the huge increase in complaints over the last three years, our response and complaints management may be delayed.

Our team treats all complainants with fairness and respect. We acknowledge that you may be feeling distressed or angry, but abuse towards our staff is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

We may issue a warning, report a matter to the Police, or modify or restrict access to our services if our staff are abused.

Before you start

Please note that HDC can’t:

  • Make people pay you any money
  • Have a person ‘struck off’
  • Change what is written in your medical notes
  • Provide a second opinion on your diagnosis
  • Get you an appointment.

What can I complain to HDC about? Read more.

Our team may discuss your complaint and clinical records with the person and/or organisation you are complaining about, including their employer. This may include forwarding them a copy of your complaint and the clinical records to enable them to respond to our questions about your complaint.

Need help?

You can get help from an advocate to resolve your complaint directly with the person or organisation you are unhappy with, or they can help you make a complaint to HDC. Call 0800 555 050. This service is free of charge.

Online complaint forms

You can fill in an online form in any language and we will have it translated. If you have documents/photos to support this complaint, please have them ready to upload.

Complain about care you received Complain on behalf of someone else

Kia tuku amuamu mō te manaakitanga i riro mai i a koe | Te reo Māori complaint form

Amuamu mō tētahi atu

Mēnā kei te whakamahi koe i te reo Māori puka amuamu hei amuamu mō tētahi atu tangata, i te wāhanga 'ko wai koe', homai ngā taipitopito kōrero o te tangata e amuamu ana e koe. 

Tēnā koa, whakauru motuhake mai: 

  • tō ingoa katoa
  • ō taipitopito kōrero
  • tō hononga ki te tangata e amuamu ana e koe
  • ōu hononga ki te tangata, ki te rōpū rānei e amuamutia ana.
Complain on behalf of someone else

If you are using the Te reo Māori complaint form to complain on behalf of someone else, in the section ‘About you’, provide the details of the person on whose behalf you are complaining.

Additionally, please include separately:

  • your full name
  • your contact details
  • your relationship to the person being complained about
  • any relationship to the individual or organisation that is being complained about.

 

Accessible formats

Complain on behalf of someone else

If you are using these accessible formats to complain on behalf of someone else, in the section ‘About you’, provide the details of the person on whose behalf you are complaining.

Additionally, please include separately:

  • your full name
  • your contact details
  • your relationship with the person being complained about
  • any relationship to the individual or organisation that is being complained about.

Downloadable complaint forms

Printable PDFs
If you prefer to print a form, PDFs are available here. 

Frequently asked questions

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