Making a complaint about the NHS
If you are not happy with any NHS services, or feel you are not getting the treatments you need, first try to resolve the problem locally - with whoever provides the service.
You can get support for how to complain about a health service from these organisations:
- in England, contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service, known as PALS
- in Scotland, contact the Patient Advice and Support Service, known as PASS
- in Wales, contact the Community Health Council
- in Northern Ireland, contact the Patient Client Council
If you are unhappy with how a complaint has been handled, the Independent Complaints Advocacy Services (ICAS) in England or the Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) in Scotland can provide advice and represent you during the complaints process.
If a complaint can't be resolved locally
If a complaint can't be resolved locally, even with the help of ICAS or PASS, you might want to contact the ombudsman in your area to investigate further:
- the Ombudsman for England
- the Ombudsman for Scotland
- the Ombudsman for Wales
- the Ombudsman for Northern Ireland
This video from the Ombudsman Ireland explains what an ombudsman does.
Feedback to improve services
You could also contact the regulator for health services in your area. They can't resolve individual complaints, but feedback on issues can help them regulate standards of care.
- in England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- in Scotland, the Care Inspectorate
- in Wales, the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW)
- in Northern Ireland, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)
Complaints about GPs
If you are having problems with your GP and feel comfortable talking directly to them about it, this can often solve the problem.
The GP practice should have someone who handles complaints if you don't get anywhere or you don't want to speak to your GP directly.
If you do not feel comfortable talking to someone within your GP practice, you can make a complaint in writing or by phone to the NHS in your part of the UK:
Patient organisations
There are patient organisations that can offer advice and advocacy services if you feel you are being denied treatments or have been treated badly.
- Action Against Medical Accidents aims to help people who have been harmed during health care treatment.
- The Patients Association has information on all kinds of medical matters, including handling complaints.
