Former Health New Zealand Chair Rob Campbell is backing a petition for an independent Patient Safety Commissioner

The Health Consumer Advocacy Alliance says it wants something proactive, rather than reactive -- in line with the model in place in England.

Campbell says when you deal with someone only on the basis of complaints, you often get a skewed version of things.

He says a Patient Safety Commissioner could really focus on system issues, not just individual event issues -- which would be welcomed by clinicians and patients.

The petition will be handed over at Parliament tomorrow.