If you are dissatisfied with the care or treatment you have received from a hospital, you have the right to complain.
At Bolt Burdon Kemp we have helped many people win compensation, usually on a no-win, no-fee basis. Get in touch with us now for expert advice and to discuss making a claim for compensation.
Here is our guide to making a complaint about the treatment you received in hospital. Don’t forget, your complaint can run alongside any claim for compensation. If you choose to make a complaint first, however, this will not prevent time from running toward the time limit to bring a claim. It is important you act promptly in making your complaint.
Private or NHS hospitals
The complaints process you follow will depend on whether you were treated in a private or NHS hospital.
How to make a complaint – private hospitals
All private hospitals are required to have their own complaints policy. There is no standard process; however, this should be similar to the NHS complaints procedure. You will need to request a copy of the complaints procedure from the hospital where you were treated, or from their website.
If you are dissatisfied with the treatment or care you have received in a private hospital, you can:
- Raise your concerns directly with your treating consultant – you can do this verbally, but ensure you keep a record of who you spoke to and when
- Write a formal complaint by letter or email to the hospital if your concerns are not addressed to your satisfaction or you do not feel comfortable dealing directly with your treating consultant
- Write a formal complaint directly to the treating consultant in addition to the hospital itself
How to make a complaint – NHS hospitals
If you are not happy with the treatment or care you have received in an NHS hospital, there is a standard NHS procedure to follow if you would like to make a complaint. A copy of this, along with the contact details of who you should address your complaint to, can be requested from the hospital or downloaded from website of the NHS Trust it belongs to.
If you wish to make a complaint about your care or treatment at an NHS hospital you can:
- Raise your concerns with a senior member of staff, keeping a record of who you spoke to and when
- Seek advice about making a complaint from the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). Most NHS hospitals have a PALS office on site, however they are not independent
- Make a formal written complaint by letter or email if your concerns are not addressed to your satisfaction or you do not feel comfortable dealing directly with staff in the hospital. You should address the complaint to the Chief Executive, or the complaints department of the NHS trust the hospital belongs to
If you received treatment in a private hospital that was paid for by the NHS then you should follow the private hospital’s complaint procedure.
What to include in your complaint
Making a complaint provides an opportunity to express your dissatisfaction and ask for an explanation for the care or treatment you have received. When making a formal complaint it should be made in writing (by letter or email) and should include:
- What your complaint is about and who it involves
- The events that took place, and when they happened
- Your questions about what occurred
- Whether you would like a formal apology, or a meeting to discuss it
- How you can be contacted
How your complaint should be handled
Once you have submitted a formal complaint the hospital should:
- Acknowledge the complaint in writing
- Investigate the issues referred to in the complaint
- Provide a comprehensive response to your complaint in writing
- They may also offer you a meeting or an apology
The response will usually take some time to be provided by the hospital.
What to do if you are unhappy with the outcome of your complaint
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Private hospitals
If you are unhappy with the way the private hospital has dealt with your complaint, you may be able to refer the matter to the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service (ISCAS) – an independent body that deals with complaints regarding its voluntary members. You can find out if your hospital is a member on the ISCAS website
For a list of the other healthcare regulators in England, visit the NHS website.
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NHS hospitals
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your complaint or the way it was handled, you can write to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). The PHSO will investigate whether the complaints procedure was followed correctly.
