Latest news with #NZDAT
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Providers Named After Failing To Meet HDC Recommendations
Decisions 22HDC03019 and 23HDC01424 The Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) has taken the unusual step of naming two providers who have not complied with recommendations made in decisions issued by the HDC. HDC promotes and protects the rights of people using health and disability services, as set out in the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (the Code). Two consumers (Mr A and Mrs B) complained to HDC about services they had received from Nicholas Stoneman and the New Zealand Disability Trust (NZDAT). Mr Stoneman was chairman of the NZDAT at the time. Mr A and Mrs B' complaints raised concerns about poor organizational processes, a lack of policies and procedures, Mr Stoneman and the NZDAT's exploitation and treatment of vulnerable consumers, and their poor engagement with the complaints process. HDC undertook an investigation. In October 2024, Mr Stoneman and NZDAT were found to have breached the Code and not provided Mr A and Mrs B with an appropriate standard of service. In her decision, HDC Deputy Commissioner, Rose Wall, recommended Mr Stoneman provide both complainants with a written apology and comply with a number of other recommendations. Despite repeated follow up from HDC, Mr Stoneman and NZDAT have not complied with any of the recommendations. "In failing to meet any of my recommendations, Mr Stoneman and NZDAT have failed to comply with their legal obligations under the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994. They have demonstrated a lack of commitment towards improving their practice. "In the circumstances, I consider Mr Stoneman and NZDAT pose a risk to other vulnerable consumers. I have therefore decided to re-issue the decision and name them." Ms Wall said anyone who had received substandard treatment from a practitioner should contact HDC if they wished to submit a complaint.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
NZ Disability Advisory Trust and Nicholas Stoneman 'pose a risk' to vulnerable consumers
One person complained their diagnosis of autism seemed to have been done from a questionnaire only and cost them $700. File image. Photo: AFP A disability advocate and the organisation he works for have been labelled a risk to vulnerable consumers by the Health and Disability Commission which has taken the unusual step of naming them. The New Zealand Disability Advisory Trust (NZDAT) and Nicholas Stoneman were initially anonymous in a critical report by the commission late last year. That report raised shortcomings in an autism diagnosis, not engaging respectfully with clients, possible overcharging for services, and failing to address clients' concerns. One complainant said the Trust charged her $700 for a diagnosis of autism that seemed to have been done from a questionnaire only, the commission's report said. The accepted diagnosis practice was much more rigorous and the service had therefore failed to provide her with services of an appropriate standard, the report said. In response to another complaint, Stoneman told the commission the complainer, Mr A, was "a serious narcissistic autistic". Mr A had been upset when he learned about those comments. "I am concerned that when Mr Stoneman made these comments, he did not consider how disrespectful they were and how they would affect Mr A," the commission said. In an decision released on Monday, deputy commissioner Rose Wall said she was now naming Stoneman and the service because they had not carried out any of its recommendations. "In the circumstances, I consider Mr Stoneman and NZDAT pose a risk to other vulnerable consumers," she said. RNZ attempted to contact Stone and the Trust but none of the publicly listed numbers or websites were active. The Trust's email automatically bounced back, signed by Nick Stoneman. "The NZ Disability Advisory Trust Inc office is now closed for our hard working Disability Service Navigators to have some much needed leave we will do limited email checks over the office closure period," the auto reply said. The Commission's recommendations had included that the service and Stoneman take further training in autism and dealing clients with autism, improve their process and policies and make apologies to the complainants. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
