Compliments, Comments, Concerns and Complaints
We aim to provide our patients with the best care we can and would like ot hear from you if you think we have done something well, or if you have suggestions on how we could do something differently. Equally we know that there will be times when we fall short of the mark and want to know if you are unhappy with our service.
We would encourage you to speak to whoever you feel most comfortable with - your doctor, a nurse, a receptionist or manager, but if you prefer to give your feedback in writing, please send it to the Practice Manager at the address detailed on the front of this booklet. You can also send us a message via the practice website or by posting a message in our Suggestions Box. We would also welcome your comments, concerns and ideas through our Patient Participation Group.
If you have a complaint please do not be afraid to say how you feel. We welcome feedback to help us improve our standards
and you will not be treated any differently because you have complained. We will do our best to put right anything that has gone wrong.
Who can make a complaint?
Complaints can be made by patients either on their own behalf or by a representative (with your consent).
When something goes wrong
If you have a complaint or concern the quickest way to resolve it is to speak to a member of the team and if they can resolve it straight away they will do so. If not, they will refer the matter to the Practice Manager who will take matters from there.
What happens next?
The Practice Manager will acknowledge your complaint and make early contact with you (within 3 days) to discuss the way forward. The discussion can be face to face but need not be depending upon what is most convenient for all concerned.
Your complaint will be investigated within an agreed timescale and you will be kept informed of progress.
What other options do I have?
Complaints can be directed to Ashford Clinical Commissioning Group rather than the Practice and they may undertake the complaint handling or in some cases with your consent, may refer the complaint back to the Practice. The CCG is obliged to notify the Pracitce about any complaints it receives with your consent.
What happens if the complaint involves a hospital?
Where other organisations such as hospitals are involved in the complaint, we will aim to provide you with a co-ordinated response covering all aspects of your complaint. Where a complaint is soley about a third party, we may seek your agreement to pass the complaint to them.
And finally...
Once the investigation has been concluded a letter will be sent to you setting out how we investigated your complaint as well as details of the actions taken or to be taken as a result of our findings. We hope that your complaint will be resolved at this stage, but if not we may invite you to discuss what else might be done. If you remain unhappy, we will write to advise you that we are satisfied with the way the complaint has been investigated and to provide you with details of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to whom you will then have recourse.
The Health Service Ombudsman in England
If you remain dissatisfied with the response from the practice (or the PCT where your complaint was investigated by them) then you have the right to refer your complaint to the Health Service Ombudsman. They would require a clear statement of what issues remain outstanding.
The Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman
Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP
0845 015 4033 phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman website contains detailed information on raising a complaint about any aspect of the NHS in England. There is also a leaflet explaining the procedure of bringing a complaint to the ombudsman.