The Layt Clinic is committed to providing all individuals who walk through our doors with an environment that prioritizes respect and dignity. We follow the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights and acknowledge that a patient has the right to Access, Safety, Respect, Partnership, Information, Privacy and to Give Feedback. To view these details visit www.
safetyand quality.gov.au/your-rights.
We have developed specific policies regarding the lodging of complaints and concerns, as well as policies regarding behaviour and conduct toward our staff or other patients and individuals at our clinic. These procedures and policies are designed to help foster an attentive and respectful atmosphere, and to efficiently address any problems or misunderstandings.
Please take a moment to view our Complaints Procedure and Expected Behaviour policies below. If you have questions, please contact The Layt Clinic for additional information.
Purpose
We understand that healthcare is a personal and sensitive matter. Every patient has the right to voice their concerns and be heard. Our Complaints Policy has been designed to ensure that any concerns are handled fairly, respectfully, and efficiently. We commit to taking every complaint seriously, treating all parties involved with dignity and respect. Patients, Staff and Doctors all deserve to be treated in a reasonable manner and any unreasonable conduct will not be accepted from either party.
Our complaint management system is intended to:
- Enable us to respond to issues raised by people making complaints in a timely and effective way.
- Boost public confidence in our administration process, and
- Provide information that can be used by us to deliver quality improvements in our products, services, staff and complaint handling.
Some complaints are a misunderstanding of either verbal or written information. We often review our documentation and procedures to assist with understanding documentation and informative communication for our patients and we value constructive patient input.
Lodging a Complaint
You are encouraged to discuss any surgical concerns with your surgeon. If your complaint is not related to surgery, please direct it to the practice manager. Most issues can be resolved quickly and effectively through direct communication.
If the matter remains unresolved or requires a formal investigation, you may submit a written complaint to the Practice. Please include your name, contact details, and a clear description of the issue. The practice will then gather the facts from relevant staff members, check protocols and documents, records of phone calls and check what happened on the day and leading up to that date. The complaint will be documented and the patient will be contacted to both discuss and respond to the concerns.
The Layt Clinic
16 Harvest Court
Southport QLD 4215
management@thelaytclinic.com
Ph: 07 5597 4100
Escalation
If you are not satisfied with the response of your surgeon or practice, you may escalate your complaint to the State or Territory Health Care Complaints Commission and/or Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
State | Commission/Authority (website link) | Phone |
---|---|---|
NSW
|
1800 043 159
|
|
NSW
|
(02) 9879 2200
|
|
Queensland
|
133 646
|
|
ALL STATES
|
1300 419 495
|
Confidentiality
All complaints will be treated with confidentiality and in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles. Personal information will only be used for the purpose of investigating and resolving the complaint.
Vexatious & Frivolous Complaints
The Doctors and Staff at The Layt Clinic have a responsibility to all parties, that is, patients, staff and doctors who are involved in the complaints process, and we will not accept any form of harassment or aggression.
A vexatious complaint may be, but is not limited to, a groundless or without substance complaint that causes distress, detriment or harassment to the subject of the complaint or is unduly repetitive, burdensome or unwarranted when compared to its merits. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Complainant continues to pursue a complaint which has previously been addressed and provides no new information that warrants further action,
- The complainant fails to furnish additional information which would likely be available, relevant to, and supportive of, the issues raised in the complaint,
- Complainant lies or gives misleading information to The Layt Clinic or an independent reviewer.
If a complaint is determined to be vexatious, it will not be progressed, and all parties will be advised. Support may be offered to the patient or a referral to another clinic may be advised or requested. In extreme cases, the vexatious behavior may be reported.
Frivolous complaints may be, but are not limited to:
- Extent of the complaint is out of proportion to the significance of the matter.
If a complaint is determined to be frivolous, there may not be any local resolution, or it may not be progressed to an independent party and all parties will be advised. Support may be offered to the patient or a referral to another clinic may be advised or requested.
Expected Behaviour and Conduct Procedure
The Layt Clinic is committed to producing a high quality of care to our patients. The relationship between the patients and those working in the surgery is an important issue and is a two-way process. Therefore, in order to protect both the staff and other patients, we have a zero tolerance policy and respectively point out that the following behaviour will not be tolerated:
Unreasonable and inappropriate conduct, includes, but is not limited to:
- Excessive levels of repetitive contact with The Layt Clinic, Doctors or Staff
- Loud and intrusive conversation or other noise
- Offensive language, verbal abuse and swearing
- Offensive, threatening or aggressive gestures and or actions directed to The Layt Clinic, Doctors, Staff or other Patients of the clinic
- Invasion of personal space
- Physical assault, including unsuccessful contact
- Damage to practice property or that of other patients
- Reckless behaviour that could result in harm to others
- Inappropriate behaviour involving alcohol or substance misuse
- Unreasonable expectations or demands about timeframes, outcomes or other interactions with The Layt Clinic, Doctors, Staff, or other Persons in relation to the clinic
- Behavior which indicates a lack of positive engagement and good faith with The Layt Clinic, Doctors, Staff, or other Patients of the clinic.
The clinic understands that the patient whose conduct or behavior is unreasonable may still have a valid concern about an issue with the clinic. The Layt Clinic are committed to working with all our patients and staff requiring assistance and understand that where unreasonable conduct is present, we may require to amend services being offered to a patient to ensure safety of the Staff, Doctors, and other Patients of this clinic. In some cases, this may include limiting some or all services to the patient and a referral to another clinic may be advised or requested.
In cases where patient behavior is threatening or assessed to be of imminent risk to Doctors, Staff, or other Patients, it may be necessary to cease any treatment, and call police. This would also result in referral to another Clinician.
We do not allow smoking, vaping or drinking of alcohol on the premises and ask that mobile phones are switched off. Please note that for health reasons appropriate dress should be worn (e.g., no bare chests/feet please).