Latest from Health and Disability Commissioner

Health watchdog taking years to investigate complaints - amid ‘significant pressure’

Covid backlog, ancient IT system part of problem, but upgrade request for latter rejected.

Woman dies from stage four cancer after DHB's systemic failures

The post-menopausal woman had been bleeding on and off for five years.

'Shocking': Intellectually disabled woman left unchecked for two days, found dead in bed

Care staff feared the 30-year-old might act aggressively so they left her alone.

Asthmatic teen died after ambulance sent on a break

'We were waiting and no one came' - family's distress after failed 111 call.

Trainee doctor started medical procedure without anaesthetic: 'Most horrific pain'

The woman screamed as she felt the electrically surging wire “cut through her cervix”.

Te Whatu Ora Waikato breached patient's rights, led to late cancer diagnoses - report

An X-ray found nodules in lungs, but the woman, GP were not told. She died months later.

Coroner rules Dunedin man’s death from Covid vax may have been prevented

HDC finds failing to provide information was a prima facie breach of the health code.

'More than 50 patients': Junior doctor on sole duty the night elderly man died

'I do know I was frantically busy all night', the doctor tells HDC.

'Insensitive': Doctor apologises for using humour during teen's circumcision

He also commented on the teen's weight and exposed him when his whānau were in the room.

St John failed in care of heart attack patient after 111 call

His GP told him to call an ambulance urgently and not drive himself to hospital.

'No way did I consent': Woman given mesh treatment instead of hysterectomy

It was four months before she found out what type of surgery she'd had.

The big risk factor for dementia - and what the Government is being urged to do about it

The Government subsidy for hearing aids of $1022 hasn't increased for years.

Young boy rushed to hospital after being accidentally given anti-psychotic drug

Pharmacy censured after boy's hay-fever medicine found to contain anti-psychotic drug.

Mum pleads for understanding over adult son's screaming bouts

“Pachygyria patients ... may have difficulty controlling some behaviours."

Nurse cleared of inappropriately touching a tetraplegic patient's genitals

The nurse admitted to touching the patient's genitals but only to change his catheter.

Young woman who took her own life had asked to go to more secure care facility

She was found unresponsive in her bedroom at a mental health respite facility.