Whanganui District Health Board view compliments, complaints, feedback and suggestions as a valuable tool to assist us to improve our standard of services to the community. 

How to Make a Complaint

Many complaints or concerns can be resolved quickly, once they are brought to our attention. If you have a concern about our service we encourage you to talk to the staff member in charge of the department or our Customer Relations Officer. Additional assistance and support for Maori clients and whanau is available from the Maori Health Coordinator.

There are a variety of ways you can make a complaint.

• Telephone the Customer Relations Officer on (06) 348 1234 Extension 8405
• Text WDHB and your feedback to 4882
• Write to the Customer Relations Officer
• Email contact@wdhb.org.nz
• Make an appointment  with the Customer Relations Officer to meet personally
• Complete the yellow feedback forms available throughout the hospital

Key Details to Include in a Complaint

To enable Whanganui District Health Board to fully investigate your complaint, please include the following key details:

• Contact details of complainant (the person making the complaint) including name, address and phone number
• Contact details of patient (if patient is not the complainant) including name, address, phone number and date of birth
• If you are not the patient, state your relationship to the patient

If the complaint is made by someone other than the patient, the Customer Relations Officer  may need to contact the patient to seek their consent to the disclosure of their health information.

Advocacy Service

If you are unhappy about the service you have received from a health or disability provider you can seek free independent support from Nationwide Health & Disability Advocacy Service.

Click here for more information about Nationwide Health & Disability Advocacy.

Whanganui District Health Board’s Complaints Management Policy

Whanganui District Health Board’s policy on complaints meets the requirements stated under Rule 10 of the Code of Health & Disability Services Consumers’ Rights.

Click here to view Whanganui District Health Board’s Consumer/Patient Complaints Management Policy.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Everyone using a health or disability service has the protection of the Code of Health & Disability Services Consumers’ Rights and the Health Information Privacy Code.

Click here to learn about patient rights and responsibilities and the Health Information Privacy Code.