Complaints and Disciplinary Process
Complaints from health consumers against practitioners should be made in writing and be sufficiently detailed. All consumer complaints must initially be sent to the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC), PO Box 1791, Auckland 1140 or email hdc@hdc.org.nz
Further information can be found on the HDC website: www.hdc.org.nz
Where the Podiatrists Board receives a patient care complaint (a complaint alleging that the practice or conduct of a podiatrist has affected a health consumer) the Board must also promptly send that complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner.
If the scope of the complaint is not clear, the complaint will be referred to the Commissioner for preliminary assessment. Following a preliminary assessment, the Commissioner may then refer complaints to the Podiatrists Board, the Responsible Authority, to consider further action.
The Board assesses the complaint, and considers in light of the nature and circumstances of the complaint, the action or actions that the Board should take to respond to the complaint.
The Board may also decide to refer the complaint to a Professional Conduct Committee.
Professional Conduct Committee
The Podiatrists Board may appoint these independent committees from time to time to investigate complaints.
The Professional Conduct Committee can make various determinations and recommendations. Some of the determinations and recommendations possible are that: the Board counsel the practitioner, the Board review the competence of the podiatrist, the Board review the practitioner’s scope of practice, a charge be brought against the podiatrist, or no further steps be taken.
Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal
The HPCA Act has established a Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) to hear and determine charges brought before it for any health practitioner covered by the HPCA Act.
The Tribunal membership is composed of the Chairperson (Barrister or Solicitor of the High Court), or a deputy Chairperson and four others, three of whom must be professional peers of the health practitioner, and one must be a layperson.
The source of charges is either from the Director of Proceedings (Health and Disability Commissioners Office) or a Professional Conduct Committee.