If you want to make a complaint about your experience at a health service, the best place to start is by contacting the them directly.
This should be done before submitting a complaint to the Department of Health, as most concerns can be resolved quickly by speaking to the people involved.
If you are not comfortable raising the issue directly with the health service, or you’ve already tried and are not satisfied with the outcome, you can contact us.
Complaints about a public hospital
All public hospitals have a Patient Liaison Officer or Patient Representative who can help you with their complaints process.
To start a complaint, find the contact details on the Public hospitals in Victoria list and contact them directly.
Complaints about a private health service
Private health services include:
- private hospitals
- day procedure centres
- mobile health services
- bush nursing hospitals
- cosmetic service providers.
If your complaint is about a private health service, raise it first with the service's complaints officer. All private health services must:
- have a complaints officer
- clearly inform patients and staff who the officer is
- handle complaints promptly and confidentially
- inform you of any action taken
- ensure you are not treated unfairly for making a complaint.
If you are not satisfied with the response from the provider, you can contact:
- Health Complaints Commissioner – an independent body that investigates complaints about health service providers.
- Private Hospitals Unit – responsible for the regulation and quality of private health services. Email privatehospitals@health.vic.gov.au.
See Complaints about private health service establishments for more detail.
More information
Reviewed 06 October 2025
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Contact us
Complaints Unit Department of Health GPO Box 4057, Melbourne, VIC 3001