"Complaints process following my husband's passing"

After my husband’s passing, I turned to HADSCO and AHPRA in the hope that my concerns about his treatment would be properly addressed. However, my complaint was closed within two weeks, with no meaningful action taken. The responses I received were dismissive, accepting only the specialists’ accounts while ignoring my detailed records of what had happened. It was incredibly disheartening, especially given the suffering my husband endured. I know I am not alone in this experience, as so many others have faced the same frustrations when seeking accountability for poor healthcare experiences.

In 2023-24 there were 7,591 complaints about a health service, a 3% increase from the 7,351 complaints in 2022-23. These complaints went to HADSCO and were recorded in HADSCOs Trend Report.

Complaints are more likely to concern females than males, and most likely to concern those aged 70 or older.

Also mentioned in the Trend Report, - HADSCO closed 97% of received complaints within the same financial year. However, although reported closed, I am aware that there are many whose complaints were closed, because (“the two parties cannot get together and agree”) and there was no outcome or action taken or referral on to AHPRA the Federal counterpart, leaving the consumer very disappointed and disillusioned. This can be verified by reading the many negative online reviews of HADSCO – giving it 1.4 stars out of 5.

I am aware that HADSCO had a recent review - however, given that someone has gone through some medical trauma and would want to have their complaint taken seriously and action taken to ensure it would not happen to anyone else – is HADSCOs take on action and outcome enough - ‘an apology given’, ‘explanation provided’ and ‘concern registered’.

Is HADSCO the right place to go to complain about a negative health experience and expect some action? Perhaps the AMA, and the Doctor’s Registration Board should be the first point of contact. This is the same question put to the WA Minister for Health by reviewers, and myself, and no response given.