Complaints about the Health and Disability Commissioner

We can consider complaints about the actions and decisions of the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC). 

The Ombudsman has the ability to investigate a matter and to form an opinion on whether the HDC’s acts and decisions were fair and reasonable in the circumstances. If we find something wrong we can recommend the HDC take some further action, but it is not our role to override the HDC’s views or to remake the decision for the HDC. 

Unlike the Ombudsman, the HDC must have certain health-related qualifications, including knowledge of the health and disability systems and of the needs of healthcare consumers. 

This means that when considering complaints against HDC, the Ombudsman will focus on the fairness and reasonableness of the process followed by HDC and will tend not to intervene in technical or specialist matters unless there is a clear or obvious error.