There are many different types of health service providers in Australia. These include general practitioners, specialists, hospitals, community health services, and private–sector providers.
General practitioners (GPs) are usually the first point of contact for people seeking medical care. They can provide a range of services, including diagnosis and treatment of illness, referrals to specialists, and preventive healthcare. GPs can also provide advice on a wide range of health issues.
Specialists are doctors who have undertaken additional training in a particular area of medicine. They can provide expert advice and treatment for more complex health problems. Hospitals provide a range of acute (emergency) and chronic (long-term) care services.
Why would you complain about a health care service provider?
Health care providers are crucial for our well-being and so when they don’t provide the expected level of care, it can be really frustrating. There are a few reasons you might want to go to AHPRA for complaints against doctors. Maybe you didn’t feel like your privacy was respected, or perhaps you were left in pain after a treatment. In some cases, people have even been incorrectly diagnosed and given the wrong medication! If you receive sub-standard care, it can impact your health in a serious way – so it’s understandable that you would want to make a complaint. By speaking up, you could help to improve the level of care for yourself and others.
Who can complain to AHPRA?
If you have a complaint about a health care service provider, you can lodge a complaint with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). AHPRA is responsible for regulating health care providers in Australia, and complaints about providers can be made by patients, their families or careers, or members of the public. Anyone can lodge a complaint with AHPRA, and there is no fee for doing so.
All complaints are treated confidentially, and you can remain anonymous if you wish. If you have concerns about the safety or quality of care you have received from a health care provider, AHPRA can help you to get answers and resolve your concerns.
What is a notification? How does it affect a health practitioner?
If you have concerns about the conduct of a registered health professional, you can make a notification to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). This contains cases where the practitioner is:
- working while drunk or not well
- being in sexual wrongdoing
- Working while incapacitated
- Handling a patient in a wrong way or not in the ways suggested by the medical practitioner
- Not maintaining advertising compliance
Notifications can be made by members of the public, patients, employers, colleagues or anyone else who has firsthand knowledge of the practitioner’s conduct. If you are unsure whether the conduct you have observed amounts to misconduct, you can still make a notification and AHPRA will assess the information provided.
Making a notification is confidential and can be done online, by phone or in writing. For more information about how to make a notification, visit the AHPRA website.
What can you do if a notification is made against you?
If you receive a complaint, the first thing you should do is contact your malpractice insurance carrier. They will provide you with guidance on how to proceed.
You should also contact an attorney who specializes in medical law lawyer malpractice law. He or she can help you assess the merits of the complaint and advise you on the best way to defend yourself.
Finally, do not discuss the complaint with anyone other than your insurance company and your attorney. Doing so could jeopardize your case.
Who will inspect it and how much time it will take?
When a notification is lodge, the relevant National Board assesses the complaint and commences an investigation. Depending on the severity of the complaint, this can be a lengthy process that can take up to 12 months.
During this time, the Board will gather evidence and testimonies from both parties involved. They will then make a determination based on the evidence collected. If they find that there has been misconduct, they will take appropriate disciplinary action against the registered health practitioner.
This may include anything from a slap on the wrist to full license revocation. In some cases, the matter may also be refer to law enforcement for further investigation. Either way, it is a long and arduous process that can have far-reaching consequences.
To sum up:
A complaint can be register against any healthcare provider, from a doctor to a nurse to a dentist. Depending on the type and seriousness of the complaint, it could result in an investigation and/or disciplinary action.
