Practice complaints procedure
If you have a complaint to make, or a concern to express, about the service you have received from the Doctors or any of the Staff working within the Practice, then please let us know.
We operate a Practice Complaints Procedure as part of the NHS system for dealing with complaints.
How to complain
We know from experience that most problems can be sorted out quickly and easily, often at the time the problem has arisen and with the person concerned.
If your problem cannot be sorted out in this way, and you wish to make a formal complaint, we would like you to let us know as soon as possible – ideally, within days of the problem arising. This will enable us to more easily establish the facts relating to the situation under investigation.
If it is not possible to submit your complaint quite so quickly, please provide us with specific details of your complaint:-
* within 12 months of the incident that created the problem
OR
* within 12 months of discovering that you have a problem
All formal complaints should at first be referred directly to the Practice Manager, Natalie Parish. This will best be achieved either by making an early appointment in order to discuss your concerns, by putting your complaint in writing, or sending an email to [email protected]
We shall be happy to supply you with a standardised complaint form for the purpose which can be collected from the reception desk.
What action shall we take?
We will make early contact with you, explain and clarify the Complaints Procedure to you, promptly follow up the complaint on an agreed basis and then report back to you as soon as the matter has been properly investigated.
We shall aim to acknowledge your complaint within two working days and aim to have completed the investigation into your complaint within ten working days from the date when it was first raised.
When we investigate a complaint we shall aim to:
* Find out what happened and what went wrong.
* Make it possible for you to discuss the problem that has arisen directly with the person concerned – if you would like this to be arranged.
* Provide you with a written response where this is appropriate.
* Try to ensure that the problem does not reoccur
Complaining on behalf of someone else
Please note that we must observe the rules of medical confidentiality. This means that we can only accept a complaint on behalf of someone else if we have written authority of the person concerned, that is, unless the person is incapable, through illness, of providing this. This power of authorisation can be recorded on the back of our standardised Patient Complaint Form which is available at Reception.
Alternative routes for complaints
We hope that, if you have a problem, you will use our Practice Complaints Procedure. We believe that this will give us the best chance of putting right whatever has gone wrong and provide us with an opportunity to review our own performance.
If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided you have the option to contact NHS England. This body has responsibility for primary care in South Gloucestershire; GP practices, dental practices, opticians and pharmacies. Patients with complaints or concerns about GP practices, dental practices, optometry practices (opticians) will need to contact either the individual practice or the NHS England Customer Contact Centre:
Telephone: 0300 311 2233
E-mail: [email protected]
Write to them at:
NHS Commissioning Board,
PO Box 16728
Redditch B97 9PT
If you remain unhappy after local resolution and independent review then you can complain to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is completely independent from the NHS and Government.
Telephone: 0845 015 4033
Visit their website: www.ombudsman.org.uk
Write to them at:
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London SW1P 4QP
In addition to the above, if you need advice and support with writing letters of complaint or attending meetings relating to a complaint, the Advocacy Service “Care Forum” can be contacted on 0808 808 5252.
We have a practice complaints form that can be used. Please complete this form and return to the practice. Click here to access the form.
NHS England Customer Care Centre
The NHS England Customer Care Centre is available for patients to use if they have any complaint query or concern about GP services. This is the case whether the commissioning of primary care medical services is delegated to CCGs or whether it remains with NHS England & NHS Improvement.
The Customer centre provides patients with a helpful contact point and support when they have issues. The contact details below should be included in patient communications, this would include the practice leaflet, patient letters regarding complaints and registration issues.
Telephone: 0300 311 22 33
Email: [email protected]
General Post (including complaints): NHS England, PO Box 16738, Redditch, B97 9PT
