Complaints
As a patient, you have the right to expect a high standard of Plastic Surgery care. Unfortunately, from time to time, concerns or complaints may arise. In the first instance, it is always best to discuss the problem with your Specialist Plastic Surgeon. Together, you may be able to find a solution to your concern or problem. However, if this is not possible and you would like to make a formal complaint, there are various commissions throughout Australia and New Zealand that can offer you further assistance.
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Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
Members of the public can make a notification to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) about the conduct, health and performance of a practitioner or trainee. Activities considered as breaches of professional conduct are categorised as professional misconduct, unprofessional conduct, and notifiable conduct. Practitioners are health impaired if they have a physical or mental impairment, disability, condition or disorder that detrimentally affects, or is likely to have a detrimental effect on their capacity to practise their profession. The professional performance of a registered practitioner is defined to be unsatisfactory if it is below the standard reasonably expected of a practitioner of an equivalent level of training or experience.
Visit the AHPRA website for more information. -
Australia: Health Care Commissions and Medical Boards
Each Australian state and territory has its own commission that deals with complaints about medical practitioners.
State/Territory Commission Website NSW Health Care Complaints Commission Email: hccc@hccc.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.hccc.nsw.gov.auNSW New South Wales Medical Board Email: nswmb@nswmb.org.au
Website: http://www.ahpra.gov.au/
VIC Health Services Commissioner Email: hsc@dhs.vic.gov.au
Website: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/hsc/
VIC Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria Email: info@medicalboardvic.org.au
Website: http://www.ahpra.gov.au/
ACT ACT Community Health and Health Services Complaints Commissioner Email: human.rights@act.gov.au
Website: www.hrc.act.gov.au
ACT Medical Board of the Australian Capital Territory Email: medicalboard@medicalboard.act.gov.au
Website: http://www.ahpra.gov.au/
QLD Health Quality and Complaints Commission (HQCC) Email: info@hqcc.qld.gov.au
Web: www.hqcc.qld.gov.au
QLD Medical Board of Queensland Email: registrations@medicalboard.qld.gov.au
Website: http://www.ahpra.gov.au/
SA Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner Website: http://www.hcscc.sa.gov.au/ SA Medical Board of South Australia Email: admin@medicalboardsa.asn.au
Website: http://www.ahpra.gov.au/
TAS Health Complaints Commissioner Email: health.complaints@justice.tas.gov.au
Website: http://www.healthcomplaints.tas.gov.au/
TAS Medical Council of Tasmania Email: mct@medicalcounciltas.com.au
Website: http://www.ahpra.gov.au/
WA Office of Health Review Website: www.healthreview.wa.gov.au WA Medical Board of Western Australia Email: info@wa.medicalboard.com.au
Website: http://www.ahpra.gov.au/
NT Health and Community Services Complaints Commission Email: hcscc.omb@nt.gov.au
Website: http://www.hcscc.nt.gov.au/
NT Medical Board of Northern Territory Website: http://www.ahpra.gov.au/ -
New Zealand: Medical Council and Medical Commissioner
Patients have rights as consumers of health and disability services provided by doctors and other health professionals in public and private services, for paid and unpaid services, within hospitals and within private practices. The code of rights is law under the Health and Disability Act 1994 (the HDC Act).
Complaints can be made to the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) or the Medical Council (MCNZ). Please see below for contact details for HDC and MCNZ.
Complaints made to an HDC advocate that remain unresolved after advocacy assistance must be referred to the HDC. MCNZ must refer all patient care complaints about doctors to the HDC. The HDC is responsible for ensuring that each complaint about health care and disability services providers is dealt with appropriately. The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal determines any disciplinary action to be brought against doctors and other health practitioners.
Medical Council of New Zealand
Patients can contact MCNZ at:Phone: 0800 286 801
Fax: (04) 4947901
Website: http://www.mcnz.org.nz
Email: complaints@mcnz.org.nz.Health and Disability Commissioner
Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) contact details:Phone: 0800 11 22 33
Fax: (04) 4947901
Website: http://www.hdc.org.nz
Email: hdc@hdc.org.nz
Address: PO Box 11934, Manners St, Wellington
