I thought the Tasmanian Office of the Health complaints Commissioner would be a place where independence is key to the role of the office.

It has taken 577 days to receive a response from the Tasmanian Health Service to the OHCC in regard to our grievances.

I was told by both previous Senior investigation officers that the THS response would be disclosed and discussed with me, so I would know their response and have an opportunity to respond with questions back to the THS with any discrepancies or inaccuracies discovered in their response- essentially a to and fro between the parties until resolved.

On March 31, 2025, I received a 3 minute cold call from the OHCC investigation officer who stated she had a response from the THS for the complaint. She read her letter to me and stated she had already dismissed all but one point and did I have any questions? 

Case closed.

There was no THS response forwarded to me and I have no idea what documentation has been provided to the OHCC for their decision making process. How can I have relevant questions when I don't know what was submitted?! However when I emailed the officer asking for a copy she replied with-
 

"I do not require further comments from you but note in our phone call on 31 March 2025 that I asked whether you had any questions, which you did not... I have not provided you with a copy of the information received from the THS... you can request it through RTI application to the Department of Health. In relation to previous officers advising you that you would receive a copy and the opportunity to respond and ask further questions, I did not consider that to be necessary or beneficial in my assessment under the Act".

Why would a Government Department employee make it more difficult for a carer, and take more time away from my caring responsibilities, when she could email it to me straight away?

In essence the OHCC has dismissed biased, discriminatory, defamatory and neglectful treatment of a patient based on his disability requiring pain management. The THS previously submitted lies to AHPRA and NDIS which did not disclose my husband's 30 year disability and instead made him look as though he was "not willing to engage" and being a difficult patient. One pain specialists report was missing one critical page which noted diagnosis and neurological responses supporting his disability, and another pain specialist's report, which fully supported his need for ongoing medication at a dose higher than "state protocol" and therapy support was never submitted.

So, I have 28 days to submit my reasons for an internal review. I can ask for an extension, but my reasons "may not be accepted".

"A review is not a re-assessment of your original complaint but a review of the assessment and decision by this Office. You must state why you believe this Office’s decision is wrong and clearly identify grounds."

 

However, there is an UNLIMITED time frame for the THS to respond to complaints and also the OHCC as stated in the letter-

"I apologise for the delay in providing you with this notice of assessment. We have experienced significant delays in obtaining information from the Tasmanian Health Service (THS), and unfortunately progress on your complaint assessment was stalled while awaiting the information requested. We have also experienced delays within our Office due to resourcing issues".

Apparently the THS can defend their lies without the patient even having access to their response. They do not have to prove their accusations and lies or provide supporting evidence to the patient (as Police need to and as you would in a court of law to both defendant and prosecution). 

 

The Tasmanian Government, OHCC and the THS do not care that patients are being abandoned, as stated by a NW doctor in the petition as he gets no support from the “authority folk” in Hobart- the Pharmaceutical Services Board and the Persistent Pain Service, or in another example, NWRH ED Director Dr Marielle Ruigrok stating in an email to doctors to "minimise derogatory comments" relating to my husband. Yes, you read it correctly 'minimise'.

Simply put, Doctors are not allowed to treat patients as they wish due to the oversight by the Pharmaceutical Services Board and risk to their practices, and the Government wonders why nearly half of the suicides 233 (46%) in Tasmania between 2012 and 2018 had PAIN - acute, chronic or cancer related.

This is the system they have set up to "protect patients".

 

I just want to thank everyone again, for their signatures and financial support for this petition. It is a difficult subject to get attention for, with the media and most press perpetuating the overstated "opioid crisis" hysteria. We cannot forget those patients who continue to be traumatised every single day because of a refusal of care and appropriate medication for their conditions. 

Please continue to re-post the petition, share with friends, family and co-workers and importantly, talk about peoples experiences with pain. It is the only way to expose the trauma and neglect and maintain pressure on the Government to acknowledge and investigate the harm being done to patients and families around Australia and the world and change the rhetoric around pain management.

Thank you for caring:)