Kiwis are complaining about health care more than ever, with services in Wairarapa receiving the harshest criticism from patients.

The Health and Disability Commissioner has revealed the first half of this year was a record for patient discontent, with 380 complaints about everything from botched surgery to rudeness.

The Health and Disability Commissioner has received a record number of complaints about treatment in the first half of 2015. Photo: File.

However, picky patients rather than poor treatments could be to blame, with the commissioner not investigating the vast majority of complaints.

About one in four complaints related to surgery, while one in five picked up on issues with mental health services.

Delayed or incorrect diagnosis was by far the most common complaint – the primary concern for roughly one in five complaints – followed by poor treatment once a diagnosis was made.

In a foreword to the report, Commissioner Anthony Hill says communication also continued to be a significant gripe among patients, raised in a third of all complaints.

'We see that when things go wrong within DHB services, failings in teamwork are often implicated,” says Anthony.

Bad attitudes and a 'disrespectful manner” were also raised in nearly a quarter of all complaints.

The Wellington region received more than its fair share of complaints, with the Wairarapa and Hutt Valley district health boards receiving the first and second highest rates of complaints in the country, relative to how many patients they served.

Capital & Coast DHB also had a high rate compared to other regions.

However, Wairarapa DHB hospital manager Jill Stringer says there had been only seven complaints, and the rate was high because the DHB serviced such a small population.

'If we have that sort of variation with greater numbers that would be of concern,” claims Jill.

The report also did not account for compliments, which usually outweighed criticism, she says.

'Overall I think the rise has a lot to do with improved reporting.”

CCDHB chief operating officer Chris Lowry says all complaints were taken seriously.

'We value the feedback provided in all of these cases and encourage any patient who feels they have not received the appropriate service to lodge a complaint,” says Chris.

Figures show few complaints are upheld, with only 33 of 410 complaints even investigated during the period. Of those, only 17 were upheld.