Self-help guide
Note: This guide applies to England only
The information in this guide applies to complaining about healthcare in England only. The procedures in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are different. Please refer to our separate guides on complaints in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Your right to complain
If something goes wrong with medical treatment under the NHS, your right to complain is protected under the NHS Constitution, which promises:
- that you have the right to have any complaint you make about the NHS properly investigated,
- that you have the right to receive an appropriate explanation,
- that you have the right to compensation where you have been harmed as a result of negligent treatment, and
- that the NHS will ensure that lessons are learned to avoid similar incidents in the future.
You are also protected by the duty of candour, which was brought in following a campaign by Avma. Under this, everyone working in the NHS has a legal duty to be open and honest when something goes wrong that appears to have caused significant harm, or could lead to significant harm in the future.
It is often possible to resolve your complaint by talking informally with staff. However, if you need to take matters further, there is a clear procedure to follow which ensures that your complaint can be fully and fairly investigated and, if necessary, independently reviewed.
The section below sets out possible paths your complaint can take.
The route of an NHS complaint
The following outlines the typical route of an NHS complaint. This is a typical example only — your complaint may not follow this route exactly.
Step 1: Make an informal complaint
Raise the issue informally with the service.
- If the issue is resolved, the complaint ends.
- If the issue is not resolved, go to step 2.
Step 2: Make a formal complaint under local resolution
This is the start of the NHS complaints procedure.
- If the issue is resolved, the complaint is closed.
- If the issue is not resolved, go to step 3.
Step 3: Ask for a Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman review
The Ombudsman may review how the complaint was handled.
- If the issue is resolved, the complaint is closed.
- If the issue is not resolved, legal advice may be needed about whether judicial review is possible.
Informal complaints
You are under no obligation to make a complaint informally before you make a formal complaint. However, if you believe something has gone wrong with the healthcare provided to you or a loved one, it is almost always best to discuss your concerns with the medical staff as soon as possible, especially if your main concern is to have something urgently put right.
Talk to the staff concerned or a manager and explain why you are unhappy. If you prefer, you can ask the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) to investigate the matter. Contact your local hospital trust for contact details.
If your complaint is about a family health service such as a GP, dentist, optician, or pharmacist, you can contact the practice complaints manager. They may be able to settle your complaint straight away. If you are not satisfied with their response, however, you can submit a formal complaint through the local resolution procedures outlined below.
Advocacy services
Advocacy services are independent of the NHS and can help you to make your complaint. Their role includes arguing your case when you need them to and making sure that the NHS follows the correct procedures. Advocacy services are funded by local councils.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS will try to help you resolve issues informally before you need to make a complaint. They can be particularly helpful if your issue is urgent and you need action immediately. You will find a PALS in most hospitals and NHS GP, dentist, optician, and pharmacy services. Ask at the practice or contact your local integrated care board (ICB) for more details.
Before you make a complaint, think about:
- What is the exact nature of your concern?
- What do you want to achieve?
- What can the NHS do to satisfy this?
- Can you achieve what you want without making a formal complaint?
Formal complaints: Local resolution
If you would like your complaint to be dealt with more formally, you should use the NHS complaints procedure. The first stage is local resolution, where the NHS is required to investigate and respond to your complaint.
All NHS trusts and bodies, including foundation trusts, are covered by local resolution. Also covered are NHS family health services provided by GPs, dentists, opticians, and pharmacists, plus private healthcare establishments in cases where the treatment was paid for by the NHS.
A formal complaint can be made by any of the following:
- the person affected by the incident,
- a family member,
- a parent (for children under 16),
- a friend, or
- another body, such as an NHS advocacy service.
You will usually need to give your permission for someone to complain on your behalf. For older children, the NHS will consider whether the child’s permission is required before they investigate.
If you are complaining on behalf of someone who is too ill to do so themselves, or someone who is mentally incapacitated, the NHS will decide if you are a suitable representative to make a complaint.
If you do intend to make a complaint, please visit our page on complaints.
Time limits for complaints
You should make your complaint as soon as possible so that recollection of events is fresh. At the latest, your complaint must be made no later than 12 months after the event(s), or from when you first became aware of an issue.
NHS organisations may consider complaints outside these time limits and can take into account aspects such as the length of your illness.
Possible outcomes of your complaint
Under the NHS complaints procedure, you can get:
- an explanation for what happened,
- an apology or other statement of regret, and/or
- steps to review procedures to avoid such incidents in future.
In general, the NHS complaints procedure will not:
- offer financial compensation (in some circumstances, the NHS may agree to a small ex gratia payment — a payment made without recognising any liability or legal obligation),
- address issues of staff discipline, for instance sacking someone or having them struck off (although sometimes the information obtained through complaints investigations can lead to disciplinary action), or
- investigate private treatment (unless financed by the NHS).
Further information on complaints
For more information on making a complaint about healthcare, check our guides on health professionals’ fitness to practice and complaining about private healthcare, and view our sample letter of complaint.
How to make a complaint
A complaint can be made verbally, in writing, or electronically. If you make a verbal complaint, the healthcare provider must make a written record of the complaint and provide you with a written copy.
You can complain directly to the healthcare provider (such as the hospital or GP) or the commissioning body for the services (usually the ICB). Complaining to the ICB may be the right option if you are uncomfortable going directly to the provider or you do not think this is appropriate, such as if there has been a breakdown of the relationship. Note: If you have already complained to the provider, the commissioner will not be able to re-investigate the concerns.
If your complaint is about healthcare in prison, or for services such as vaccination services, you will need to contact NHS England directly.
If your complaint is about the use of powers or how duties are carried out under the Mental Health Act, you can complain directly to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Powers and duties carried out under the Mental Health Act cover a wide range of services, including receiving care while detained in hospital or while on a guardianship or community treatment order.
Complaints can be made by anyone — patients, friends, relatives, staff members, or any member of the public. If you ask the CQC to investigate a complaint, they will usually ask you to complain to the service provider first. If you need them to, the CQC can help you make that complaint.
What to include in your complaint
- Who or what you are complaining about.
- Where and when the events happened.
- What you have done already about the complaint.
- What result you want. This can include any issues that the hospital could help with, such as obtaining a second medical opinion.
- Whether you want an independent clinical review. You have a right to ask for this. It will be carried out by an independent consultant in the relevant field. The hospital does not have to provide this in all cases.
- Whether you require a copy of any investigation. If there has been a serious incident or other internal investigation, you should be able to have a copy of the report. If you have not received this, you can request it. The fact that such an investigation and report are available, however, is not a reason for the service provider failing to investigate or respond.
What happens next?
You must receive an acknowledgement of your complaint within three working days, which should:
- explain how your complaint is going to be investigated,
- offer you the chance to discuss your complaint, and
- confirm how long the investigation is likely to take and when you are likely to receive the outcome.
If the investigation is likely to be delayed, you should be notified in writing and given the reason for the delay.
At the end of the investigation, you should receive a formal written response.
Helpful hints
- We recommend making your complaint in writing.
- Take the name of the staff member you lodged the complaint with, the date, and what you were told they would be doing to deal with it.
- Keep a record of all phone calls, including dates and contacts.
- Keep copies of all correspondence sent and received.
- Keep copies of meetings and reports on the content and outcomes.
How long should it take?
Whilst there is no formal time limit for a complaint, the whole process should be discussed and agreed with you. The length of the investigation will depend on how complicated it is and who needs to be involved.
If you feel the investigation is taking an unreasonable amount of time, contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), which looks into complaints where it is felt the NHS has not acted fairly or put things right.
We suggest that you inform the Ombudsman if you have not received a response within six months. However, they may do no more than recommend that the NHS body responds to you as soon as possible.
Attending meetings
Sometimes as part of an investigation, you may be invited to meetings. These can be very helpful, particularly where there are complex medical issues involved. However, you should be well briefed and prepared for these.
You may wish to request a written response to your complaint before a meeting to help you prepare for the discussion. You do not have to attend meetings if you do not want to — the organisation must respond in writing.
Points to consider before a meeting
- What form will the meeting take? Meetings can be useful to ensure the organisation understands your complaint, how they should investigate and respond, and after the investigation has been carried out, explain the process and findings, that the relevant issues have been dealt with, and explain what actions will be taken as a result.
- Who will attend? Think about whether you would like the staff members involved in the incident to attend or you would prefer not to see them.
- Where will the meeting be held and how long will it take? This is important if you are still recovering from an illness, as you may not feel able to attend the whole meeting. Tell the complaints manager in advance if you have any difficulties with this.
- Do you need any adjustments? If you have mobility, hearing, or sight difficulties, you should let the complaints manger know in advance so they can make any necessary arrangements.
- What issues do you want addressed? It is a good idea to give the complaints manager a short list of your questions or concerns before the meeting. Keep a copy to take with you.
- Do you need any support? Think about taking a friend, relative, or advocate to the meeting for support and to take notes.
After a meeting
Do not agree with anything at the meeting that you are not sure about. It is also a good idea to ask for a full written record of the meeting.
If the NHS organisation thinks your complaint has been fully investigated, they should send you a full written response concluding the local resolution stage of the procedure. They should also tell you what to do next if not satisfied.
The response to your complaint
The NHS should send you a full written response to your complaint. Points to consider include the following:
- Does the response explain things in a way that you understand? If the reply contains too much medical jargon, you can ask for this to be put into layman’s language (plain English).
- Does it tell you how the investigation was carried out? For example, did they interview the staff involved in the incident?
- Are there any other matters you are still concerned about?
The formal response may offer a further meeting to deal with any outstanding issues. You can also continue trying to resolve the complaint locally in writing. This can help clarify issues without the formality and delay of an independent review. However, you do not have to accept this option — it is your right to request an independent review at this stage. If you agree to a meeting, the same principles apply as with earlier meetings — you will need to clarify what you remain dissatisfied with and why, usually in writing.
Following any further meetings or correspondence, you should receive a further formal written response. This should try to answer all your concerns and provide as comprehensive an explanation as possible. If you think they have not done this, you can ask them to take further steps, such as asking for further investigation or examination of the medical records.
One option is to ask the hospital to consider obtaining or funding an independent report from a medical expert. This can be very helpful in resolving any dispute about the medical issues relating to your complaint.
You still have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate.
What happens if I am not happy with the response to my complaint?
If you are not satisfied with the final response to your complaint, you have the right to request an independent review of your complaint by the PHSO. Read our guide on PHSO reviews for more information.