Suggestions

We are continually looking to turn patient feedback into real improvements in the services we provide. We use it to focus on the things that matter most to our patients, carers and their families.

Giving feedback

To provide feedback:

Complaints

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.
  • Within 12 months of you discovering the incident, giving as much detail as you can.

If you are a registered patient you can complain about your own care. You are unable to complain about someone else’s treatment without their written authority.

We are able to provide you with a separate complaints 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 it covers all of the necessary aspects.

Send your written complaint to:

Patient liaison & secretarial lead
Lionwood Medical Practice
30A Wellesley Avenue North
Norwich
NR1 4NU

You may also make your complaint directly to NHS England, who commissions our service:

NHS England
PO BOX 16738
REDDITCH
B97 9PT

Phone
0300 311 2233

Email
england.contactus@nhs.net

What we do next

We aim to settle complaints as soon as possible.

We will acknowledge receipt within 3 working days, and aim to resolve the matter as soon as possible but will give you some idea of how long that make take at the outset. 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, 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.

Please ask at reception for a 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.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome

You have the right to approach the Health Service Ombudsman. The contact details are:

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP

Phone
0345 0154033

Website
www.ombudsman.org.uk

You may also approach PALS, Healthwatch or the Independent Health Complaints Advocacy for help or advice.

The local Healthwatch can be found at: www.healthwatch.co.uk

The IHCA is able to be contacted at: www.theadvocacypeople.org.uk/seap

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can be contact by:

PALS Office
Hellesdon Hospital
Drayton High Road
Norwich
NR6 5BE

Telephone: PALS Office on 01603 421191 or BT freephone on 0800 279 7257 (Calls from mobiles and other providers may be charged)

Email
pals@nsft.nhs.uk

Open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Outside these hours you can leave a message on the PALS voicemail which we aim to respond to the next working day.