The Greens echo the concerns of Health Complaints Commissioner Richard Connock that his office’s underfunding is putting Tasmanians’ safety at risk.
The Health Complaints Commissioner’s office is stretched with its current workload. If the office is to properly implement the Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Practitioners and deal with the likely increase in complaints, it needs additional funding.
It’s concerning that the Commissioner has been waiting over 300 days for responses to complaints referred to the recently established Department of Health’s Statewide Complaints Management Unit. This unit clearly isn’t providing the timely and efficient complaint handling process that was recommended by the Commission of Inquiry.
The office of the Health Complaints Commissioner is designed to keep Tasmanians safe and ensure they have quality treatment and healthcare. The Liberal Government needs to stop its chronic underfunding of this vital office so it can function effectively.
