Complaints

Making a Complaint

Most problems can be sorted out quickly and easily, often at the time they arise with the person concerned, and this may be the approach you try first.

Where you are not able to resolve your complaint in this way and wish to make a formal complaint you should do so, preferably in writing as soon as possible after the event and ideally within a few days, as this helps us to establish what happened more easily. In any event, this should be within 12 months of the date the event occurred or within 12 months of the complainant becoming aware of the event.

Complaints should be directed to:
Melissa Coleman
Operations Manager
Hugglescote Surgery
151 Grange Road
Hugglescote
Leicestershire
LE67 2BS
 

What We Do Next

We look to settle complaints as soon as possible. We will acknowledge receipt within 3 working days, and aim to have looked into the matter within 10 working days. You may then receive a formal reply in writing, or you may be invited to meet with the person(s) concerned to attempt to resolve the issue. If the matter is likely to take longer than this, we will let you know and keep you informed as the investigation progresses.

When looking into a complaint, we attempt to see what happened and why to see if there is something we can learn from this. We make it possible for you to discuss the issue with those involved if you would like to do so.

When the investigation is complete, your complaint will be determined and a final response sent to you.
Where your complaint involves more than one organisation (e.g. social services) we will liaise with that organisation so that you receive one coordinated reply. We may need your consent to do this. The final response letter will include details of the result of your complaint and also your right to escalate the matter further if you remain dissatisfied with the response.
 

Complaining on Behalf of Someone Else

We abide by strict rules of medical and personal confidentiality. If you wish to make a complaint and are not the patient involved, we will require the written consent of the patient to confirm that they are unhappy with their treatment and that we can deal with someone else about it.

Please ask at reception for the Complaints Form which contains a suitable authority for the patient to sign to enable the complaint to proceed. Where the patient is incapable of providing consent due to illness or accident it may still be possible to deal with the complaint. Please provide the precise details of the circumstances which prevent this in your covering letter.

Please note that we are unable to discuss any issue relating to someone else without their express permission, which must be in writing, unless the circumstances above apply.

We may still need to correspond direct with the patient, or may be able to deal direct with the third party, and this depends on the wording of the authority provided.
 

How to Escalate

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome, you have the right to approach the Health Service Ombudsman. Their contact details are:

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Millbank Tower
Millbank London
SW1P 4QP
Tel: 0345 0154033
www.ombudsman.org.uk

You may also approach PALS for help or advice.