We operate a practice based complaints procedure. If you have a complaint or concern about the service that you have received from the doctors or any of the staff working in this practice, please let us know. Most problems can be sorted out easily and quickly, often at the time they arise and with the person concerned.
The ‘Responsible Person’ for our complaints procedure is one of the partners, Dr S Rashid and the ‘Practice Manager’ is Caron Browning. We also have a patient services manager, Carol Orchard.
How to complain
If you wish to make a formal complaint, it would be helpful if you would let us know as soon as possible, ideally, within a matter of days, as this will enable us to establish what happened more easily. Complaints should be made within 12 months of the date of the occurrence giving rise to the complaint or from the time that the complainant became aware of the matter. However, discretion will be used if the complainant is considered to have good reason for a delay in complaining and if it is still possible to investigate the complaint fairly and effectively.
Complaints should be addressed to our complaints manager, Caron Browning. If this causes you a problem, you may ask for an appointment with Caron Browning or Dr Rashid to discuss your concerns. They will explain the complaints procedure to you and will make sure that your concerns are dealt with promptly. It will be a great help if you are as specific as possible about your complaint.
What we will do
We will acknowledge your complaint within three working days and we will give you an indication of the timescale for the investigation and resolution of the complaint.
When we investigate your complaint, we will aim to:
- find out what happened
- arrange for you to have the opportunity to discuss the problem with those concerned, if you wish
- keep you informed of any delays in the investigation
- make sure you receive an apology, where this is appropriate
- take appropriate action to improve services
Who can complain
A complaint may be made by:
- a patient
- a former patient
- anyone else who has been affected by the action, omission or decision of the practice that led to the complaint
A complaint can also be made by a representative acting on behalf of a person mentioned above where that person has died, is a child or is unable by reason of physical or mental incapacity to make the complaint themselves and has requested the representative to act on his/her behalf.
In the case of a patient or person affected who has died or who is incapable, the practice must be satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for this method of representation and that the third party is genuinely acting in the best interest of the individual. If the practice is not satisfied that this is the case, we will inform the representative in writing, stating the reason for our decision.
We keep strictly to the rules of medical confidentiality and the Data Protection Act 1998. If you are complaining on behalf of someone else, we will need to know that you have his or her permission to do so. A note signed by the person concerned will be required unless they are incapable (because of illness) of providing this.
What can you do if you are dissatisfied with the result of our Investigation?
If you remain unhappy after the practice has dealt with your complaint, you have the right to ask the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) to review your complaint. The complainant will need to provide reasons why they are still dissatisfied.
The PHSO address and contact details are as follows:
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London SW1P 4QP
Complaints Helpline: 0345 015 4033 (open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm)
Fax number: 0300 0614000
Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk
Our commitment to you
The practice is committed to receiving all complaints and suggestions positively. Complaints, concerns and suggestions are routinely raised at doctors meetings so that lessons can be learned. All complaints are reviewed regularly to identify themes and trends indicating areas for service improvements.
A separate file is kept for complaints records and these are not filed in the patient’s medical record. Patients will not be discriminated against when complaints are made.
We hope that, if you have a problem, you will use our practice complaints procedure, as this will give us the best opportunity of putting things right as quickly as possible. This does not affect your right to approach NHS England if you feel you cannot raise your complaint with us. The phone number is 0300 3112233 and their address is NHS England, P.O. Box 16738, Redditch, BG7 9PT