The Mental Health Commission is disappointed a website has been established to name and shame mental health staff who breach codes of practice.
The website, Psychwatchnz.wordpress.com, was set up by counsellor and mediator Steve Taylor, who details cases and names providers who have allegedly fallen short of Health and Disability Commissioner codes.
Mr Taylor's introduction on the website said he had become "incensed at seeing New Zealand mental health staff, counsellors and care workers not being held accountable for negligent and grossly incompetent practices".
Mental Health Commission chairman Peter McGeorge said today that focusing attention on individuals who work within mental health teams was unfair and was unlikely to bring about improvements in services.
"There are proper procedures and processes in place to complain about mental health services, and this is not the right way to draw attention to these issues," he said.
"Mental health staff work in circumstances that many people would find very trying at times.
"There's always room for improvement with gaining access to services but this isn't the way to get those improvements.
"Singling out individuals goes against all the principles of natural justice and it won't actually achieve what the founder of this website says he wants."
Dr McGeorge said people concerned about the treatment they had received should complain in the first instance to the mental health service involved and, if they wish to take the matter further, to the Health and Disability Commissioner.
"DHBs have procedures and the Health and Disability Commissioner exists specifically to deal with these situations," he said.
NZPA