Make a complaint to HDC

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.

Before you start

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?

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

Scroll down to submit an online complaint form. 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 at the end of the form.

Downloadable complaint forms

Printable PDF

If you prefer to print a form, PDFs are available here. 
Make a complaint about care you received (PDF 306kb) 
Make a complaint for someone else (PDF 795kb)


Privacy

Privacy information is available here. 


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.

Make a complaint

person
About care you have received
people
On behalf of someone else

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You can complain to HDC about any organisation or person in New Zealand who has provided a health or disability service.

    This includes public and private services, paid and unpaid services, hospitals and rest homes, and individuals such as nurses, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, counsellors, chiropractors, naturopaths, and caregivers.
  • There are a number of ways of submitting a complaint. You can use an online complaint form (see boxes above), download a form to email or post (see above), email or call us. You can also use the New Zealand Relay Service.

    You can get help from an advocate to make a complaint. This service is free of charge.
  • Senior members of the Commissioner’s staff will review your complaint carefully, and the Commissioner will decide the best way of dealing with it. There are a number of options available to the Commissioner, including referring a complaint to the provider or another agency.

    The Commissioner may also decide to seek further information from you or the providers involved in your care, or from an expert advisor, before making a decision.

    Find out more information on the complaints process.
  • Making a complaint may help to prevent a similar thing happening to someone else, and may lead to an improved service.