Health and medical services
Find out what organisation you can contact if you need help with a medical or health related complaint or enquiry in NSW.
In NSW, health and medical services are delivered by a range of doctors, nurses and health care providers in hospitals, clinics and private practices.
These important services are overseen and regulated by NSW Health in partnership with the Australian Department of Health.
Who to contact for your matter
There are a few different government agencies looking after the various aspects of your overall health experience.
NSW Fair Trading
We can help you with your consumer rights and protections under Australian Consumer Law.
NSW Health Care Complaints Commission
The Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) can help you with complaints about:
- clinical management, care and treatment
- the professional conduct of a health practitioner
- risks to the health or safety of the public.
Visit the HCCC for more information.
Medicare
Medicare is the universal health care system in Australia. Medicare provides rebates for scheduled fees and helps pay for some or all the costs of health care services including:
- seeing a GP or specialist
- tests and scans
- most surgery and procedures performed by doctors
- eye tests by optometrists
- medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
If you have an issue regarding a Medicare claim, please visit the Medicare website.
National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner
The National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner (NHPOPC) handles complaints about the administrative processes of:
- 15 national boards including:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia
- Chinese Medicine Board of Australia
- Chiropractic Board of Australia
- Dental Board of Australia
- Medical Board of Australia
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
- Osteopathy Board of Australia
- Pharmacy Board of Australia
- Physiotherapy Board of Australia
- Psychology Board of Australia.
Please visit the NHPOPC website for more information.
Making a complaint
When making a complaint, you should include:
- details of the issues you are experiencing
- copies of any correspondence that shows how you have tried to resolve the matter.
How NSW Fair Trading will handle your complaint
Your complaint will be reviewed to determine the most appropriate resolution. This may include:
- providing you with information to help resolve your complaint
- recording the complaint issues to assist in future compliance programs, or
- contacting the other party to try and resolve the dispute.
You can lodge a complaint:
Online
If you cannot resolve your matter, submit your complaint by using our form.
By mail
Post your complaint form and documentation to:
NSW Fair Trading
PO Box 972
Parramatta NSW 2124
Ask a question
If you are unable to find the information you need, you can call us between 8:30am to 5pm on Monday to Friday. You can also use our form to make an enquiry.