Making a complaint is not always easy to do. Independent complaint advocacy is available within Kent and Medway free of charge if you need independent advice or support with your NHS related complaint.
Making a complaint is not always easy to do. Independent advice or support is available to help you with your NHS related complaint.
A complaint advocate can represent your views when you are making a complaint about the NHS.
They can help you write your complaint letter or write it on your behalf. They can accompany you to any meetings to discuss your complaint and provide support or provide an interpreter. The Advocacy People can help if you have difficulties with reading or writing.
For independent NHS complaints advocacy in Kent, please contact:
Name: The Advocacy People
Website: The advocacy people
Email: info@theadvocacypeople.org.uk
Phone: 0330 440 9000
For independent NHS complaints advocacy in Medway, please contact:
Name: Libra Partnership
Website: Libra partnership
Email: admin@librapartnership.co.uk
Phone: 01622 200806
Advocates are typically not legally trained so cannot support outside the scope of the Formal complaints process. You may find it of benefit to contact Action against medical accidents on 0345 123 2352 as they may be able to put you in touch with a solicitor if you are looking to sue for a medical negligence claim.
Healthwatch has been set up to give people a powerful voice locally and nationally. At a local level, Healthwatch is there to help people who live in the county get the best out of their local health and social care services, whether it is improving them today or helping to shape them for tomorrow.
The contact details for Healthwatch within Kent and Medway are:
Website: Healthwatch Kent
Email: info@healthwatchkent.co.uk
Phone: Freephone 0808 801 0102
Website: Healthwatch Medway
Email: enquiries@healthwatchmedway.com
Phone: 0800 136 656
Between the hours of 10:00 - 16:00 Monday to Wednesday and Friday. They are closed Thursdays, weekends and Bank Holidays.
You have the right to refer your complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). The Ombudsman is independent of the NHS, and they will decide if they are able to investigate your complaint.
The Ombudsman will normally only take on a complaint after you have first tried to resolve the complaint with the organisation involved and have received a response from them.
What to do if you are not happy with your healthcare (easy-read tips for making a complaint)
You can contact the PHSO using the following methods:
Website: Ombudsman website
Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk
Phone: 0345 015 4033 - open 8:30am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday (charged at a local rate)
Post: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Citygate, Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HQ
We are in the process of reviewing our current complaints policy, which is available at Complaints Handling Policy [pdf] 254KB
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