Compliments and complaints about health services
You have the right to:
- provide feedback or make a complaint without it affecting the way that you are treated
- have your concerns addressed in a transparent and timely way
- share your experience and participate to improve the quality of care and health services.
Understanding your care experience is important to us as it allows us to understand what is working well and what can be improved.
If you wish to compliment, comment on, or complain about any health service received, you should first raise your concerns with attending health staff. All public health services in WA have a complaints coordinator or a patient liaison officer who will direct you to the right services to address your concerns.
Compliments
A compliment can be about anything you were satisfied with regarding your health care. Access the WA Health consumer engagement list to give compliments.
Complaints
A complaint can be about anything that happened (or did not happen and should have) during your health care. Anyone
can make a complaint about your care – yourself, health care consumers, family, carers. It can be made at any time
after the care has happened.
How to make a complaint
- Find out which service you would like to share feedback with through the WA Health consumer engagement list.
- Talk to the service first to see if the issue can be resolved.
Tell them why you're unhappy, what the problem is, how it's made you feel and what you would like to see
happen.
- If it has not been resolved, talk to the consumer feedback team.
You can find out who looks after that service on the WA Health consumer engagement list.
What to expect after a complaint is made
- Your complaints are acknowledged within five working days.
- It is looked into and ways to address your concerns are responded back to you within 30 working days.
- If the matter cannot be resolved within three months, it will be escalated within the service.
- If there are delays, the service will let you know.
The WA
Complaints Management Policy are the rules in WA about public health care complaints.
More information
If you feel your complaint cannot be resolved by the service, there are other places you can contact for help too:
Advocacy Services
If you need help or support regarding your complaints:
Private health services
There are some services where WA Health are not involved with the service's complaints management process - for example GP clinics, private healthcare care clinics and private hospitals.
- Firstly, try to speak with the practice manager or person responsible for managing complaints.
- Health Consumers' Council (external site) also have resources to assist in lodging complaints to private clinics.
Last reviewed: 17-04-2023
This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Information about a service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace professional advice. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified professional for answers to their questions.