Failure to provide adequate advocacy and disability support services to two consumers - 22HDC03019 and 23HDC1424

In a report released today, Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rose Wall has found that a disability service and individual provider breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (the Code) for providing inadequate care to two patients in two separate cases.

The breaches relate to a man and a woman with autism and include, for the disability service:

• Failing to have a written complaints policy and procedure, and not engaging in and facilitating the complaint resolution process in a fair, simple, speedy, and efficient manner

• Failing to provide either complainant with services of an appropriate standard, namely in accordance with the relevant standards for diagnosing autism.

For the individual provider:

• The use of inflammatory language and making preconceived judgement towards both complainants.