NHS COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

The NHS aims to provide the best possible service to patients however there are times when things go wrong and it may be prudent to initially consider using the NHS complaints procedure before asking specialist medical negligence lawyers to issue proceedings in court. A complaint may result in an admission of negligence or may release evidence and information that might otherwise not be available. In the event of complaint being necessary contact should initially be made directly to the hospital and NHS complaints can include

• Quality of service
• Poor information or explanations
• Attitude of medical staff
• Condition of buildings
• Delays or cancellations
• Administrative problems
• Food and other facilities
• Visiting hours

Most hospitals encourage patients to talk to them if there are problems and in many hospitals trained staff are available to deal with the NHS complaints procedure 24 hours a day. In addition to making a personal complaint it is possible to write to the hospitals chief executive whose address will be available upon enquiry. Following receipt of a complaint most hospitals will send an acknowledgement and offer to discuss the problem and will in any event usually give a full written explanation within a month. This process is known as local resolution.

In the event of a patient not being happy with the initial explanation or any subsequent requests for reconsideration then the matter can be considered by an independent review panel. The panel will produce a report on the investigation and will make recommendations.

If these procedures having been followed with no satisfactory resolution of the problem then an application can be made to the Health Service Commissioner who is also known as the Ombudsman.
The Commissioners address is:

The Health Service Commissioner
11th Floor
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP

MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE LAWYERS UK

We are an independent network of medical negligence lawyers who specialise in clinical compensation claims. Legal Aid is still available for medical negligence claims however less than 1% of UK solicitors are approved by the Legal Aid Board. All of our solicitors are franchised by the Legal Aid Board and are entitled to make an immediate application for legal aid. If you do not qualify for Legal Aid then you may be able to make your claim using the no win no fee scheme. For free legal advice just complete the contact form and a member of The Law Society Panel Of Medical Negligence Experts will telephone you at no charge and with no obligation.