Making a complaint

What if something goes wrong or you are not happy with the care you received.

The New Zealand College of Midwives offers a Resolutions Process to help you talk through your concerns with the midwife. If your midwife is a member of the New Zealand College of Midwives you might want to try this as a first step. Information about the Resolutions Process is available on the College website http://www.midwife.org.nz/

If you have a complaint about a midwife you can contact the Health and Disability Commissioner's office on 0800 11 22 33. The Commissioner's website is www.hdc.org.nz. Information about the complaints procedure is available there.

Any complaints received by the Midwifery Council alleging that a midwife's practice or conduct has affected a health consumer have to be referred on to the Health and Disability Commissioner. The Commissioner decides whether he will investigate a complaint; he considers whether there has been a breach of the Code of Consumers' Rights . The Commissioner may subsequently refer the matter on to the Council and the Council will consider whether further action is required in relation to a midwife's competence or conduct. The Midwifery Council does not re-investigate the consumer's complaint.