Complaints Policy

Complaints Procedure

We are always looking for ways to improve the care we give our patients and from time to time we will carry out some surveys. We would appreciate your cooperation in helping us with these surveys by completing the forms when they are given to you.

If you have a complaint or concern about the service you have received from the doctors or any of the personnel working in this practice, please let us know.  We operate a practice complaint procedure as part of an NHS complaints system, which meets national criteria.

How to complain

We hope that we can sort most problems out easily and quickly, often at the time they arise and with the person concerned. If you wish to make a formal complaint, please do so AS SOON AS POSSIBLE - ideally within a matter of a few days. This will enable us to establish what happened more easily.  If doing that is not possible your complaint should be submitted within 12 months of the incident that caused the problem; or within 12 months of discovering that you have a problem. You should address your complaint either verbally or in writing to the Assistant Practice Manager via our secure online form.  The Assistant Practice Manager will make sure that we deal with your concerns promptly and in the correct way. You should be as specific and concise as possible.

Complaining on behalf of someone else

We keep strictly to the rules of medical confidentiality (a separate leaflet giving more detail on confidentiality is available on request).  If you are not the patient but are complaining on their behalf, you must have their permission to do so.  An authority signed by the person concerned will be needed unless they are incapable (because of illness or infirmity) of providing this. 

What we will do

We will acknowledge your complaint within 3 working days and aim to have fully investigated within 10 working days of the date it was received.  If we expect it to take longer we will explain the reason for the delay and tell you when we expect to finish. When we look into your complaint, we will investigate the circumstances; make it possible for you to discuss the problem with those concerned; make sure you receive an apology if this is appropriate, and take steps to make sure any problem does not arise again.  You will receive a final letter setting out the result of any practice investigations.

Take it further

If you were to be dissatisfied with the response from the surgery giving time for them to look into the complaint, then you would have the right to refer your complaint to the Health Service Ombudsman. They would require a clear statement of what issues remained outstanding. Referral to the Health Service Ombudsman should be made direct to the address given below:

Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP
Helpline: 0345 015 4033
Website: Visit the Ombudsman website

If you do not want to complain directly to a GP practice, you can contact the complaints team via new contact details below:

South East Complaints Hub
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board
King Edward VII Hospital
St Leonards Road
Windsor
SL4 3DP

Telephone: 0300 561  0290 Email: Frimleyicb.southeastcomplaints@nhs.net

However, before considering taking this step, we hope you would let us know what aspect of the complaint has not been dealt with satisfactorily and provide an opportunity for us to consider whether there is anything further that could be done locally to resolve matters.