Are you unhappy with a Health or Disability service you are receiving? If you do have concerns contact the Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service who will support you, free of charge, in overcoming any problems.
“Our aim is to support and assist consumers who need health and disability services and when a problem arises we are here to help you,” explains manager Kay Rose. ”So ring us or talk to a person you trust and we will visit you. Your problem is never too big or too small.”

If you have a problem, call the agency’s new call centre number 0800 555050. The call centre’s staff will re-direct your call to your local advocacy service.

The phone number for Central and Lower North Island is 0800 423 638 and for the South Island it is 0800 377 -766.

Another search option is to look for your local advocacy on the agency’s website www.hdc.org.nz and click on the Health and Disability Advocacy Section on the top right- hand corner.

Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service operates at a low/local resolution level, which means the advocates take action at an early stage and deal directly with the provider. As well as being free, the service is confidential and independent of service providers.

In summary, advocates will:
• Support consumers to resolve complaints between parties
• Give information about rights to consumers and providers
• Give information about the various ways to make a complaint, including how to contact the Health and Disability Commissioner
• Act on the instructions of the consumer

There are 46 advocates scattered about the country who initially ask the question: “What do you want to achieve?”
“Frequently an apology is all that is needed,” explained Kay.

Education sessions are provided as a key part of an advocate’s role where consumers are informed about their rights and providers about their responsibilities. Advocates also promote the role of complaints to improve the quality of services and increase awareness of the role of advocacy and the benefits of local or low-level resolution.

Ross Flood
55 Hillside Road
Papatoetoe
Auckland
Phone/Fax (including answer phone) (09) 278-7106
Email Ross Flood