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 incident,
or within 12 months of you discovering that you have a problem.
State your case clearly giving as much detail as you can.
If you are (or have been) a registered patient, you can complain about your own care. You are unable to complain about someone else’s treatment without their written authority. See the separate section in this leaflet.
We are able to provide you with a separate complaint form to register your complaint and this includes a third-party authority form to enable a complaint to be made by someone else. Please ask at reception for this. You can provide this in your own format providing these covers all the necessary aspects. There are some exceptions to this requirement.
Send your written complaint to:
Dr Chamila Perera
Heathfielde Medical Centre
8 Lyttelton Road, LondonN2 0EQ
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 28 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.
We will endeavour to negotiate and agree timescales for dealing with a complaint with the complainant.
When looking into a complaint we attempt to see what happened and why, to see if there is something we can learn from this and make it possible for you to discuss the issue with those involved if you would like to do so.
When the investigations are 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. Where your complaint has been sent initially to an incorrect organisation, we may seek your consent to forward this to the correct person to deal with.
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 keep to the 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.
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.
You also have the right to approach
NCL ICB (North Central London Integrated Care Board ) Complaints team
Email: nclicb.complaints@nhs.net
You also have the right to approach the Ombudsman. The contact details are:
If you are Dissatisfied with the Outcome you have the right to approach the Ombudsman.
The contact details are:
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Millbank Tower Millbank London SW1P 4QP
Tel: 0345 0154033
Website: www.ombudsman.org.uk
Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk