Suggestions, Comments, and Complaints

This procedure sets out the practice’s approach to the handling of complaints and is intended as an internal guide which should be made readily available to all staff. Id you would like to make a formal complaint, please contact the practice manager.

General Provisions

The practice will take reasonable steps to ensure that patients are aware of:

(a) the complaints procedure;

(b) the role of the Primary Care Trust and other bodies in relation to complaints about services under the contract; and

(c) their right to assistance with any complaint from independent advocacy services. The Practice will take reasonable steps to ensure that the complaints procedure is accessible to all patient.

Receiving of Complaints

The practice may receive a complaint made by, or (with his/her consent) on behalf of a patient, or former patient, who is receiving or has received treatment at the practice, or:

(a) where the patient is a child:
(i) by either parent, or in the absence of both parents, the guardian or other adult who has care of the child,
(ii) by a person duly authorised by a local authority to whose care the child has been committed under the provisions of the Children Act 1989; or
(iii) by a person duly authorised by a voluntary organisation by which the child is being accommodated

(b) where the patient is incapable of making a complaint, by a relative or other adult who has an interest in his/her welfare

Period Within which Complaints can be Made

The period for making a complaint is:

(a) six months from the date on which the event which is the subject of the complaint occurred; or

(b) six months from the date on which the event which is the subject of the complaint comes to the complainant’s notice (provided that the complaint is made no later than 12 months after the date of the event).

GPs and the complaints manager have the discretion to extend the time limits if the complainant has suffered particular distress that prevented them from acting sooner. When considering an extension to the time limit it is important that the GP or manager takes into consideration that the passage of time may prevent an accurate recollection of events by the clinician concerned or by the person bringing the complaint.

The collection of evidence, clinical guidelines or other resources relating to the time when the complaint event arose may also be difficult to establish or obtain. These factors may be considered as suitable reason for declining a time limit extension.

Complaints Handling

The practice will nominate:

(a) a complaints officer (the practice manager) to be responsible for the operation of the complaints procedure and the investigation of complaints; and

(b) a Partner, or other senior person associated with the practice, to be responsible for the effective management of the complaints procedure and for ensuring that action is taken in the light of the outcome of any investigation

Action upon Receipt of a Complaint

Complaints must be made in writing and forwarded to the practice manager (or the IT Manager if they are unavailable), who must:

• Ensure the complaint is properly investigated
• Within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the complaint was received by the practice manager, or where that is not possible as soon as reasonably practicable, the complainant must be given a written statement of the investigation and its conclusion.

Review of Complaints

Complaints received by the practice will be reviewed to ensure that learning points are shared with the whole practice team:

• complaints received during the month will be reviewed monthly at the practice staff meeting to ensure any actions required are put into practice.
• a full review of all complaints will be carried out annually to identify any trends or additional actions/learning points.

Confidentiality

All complaints must be treated in the strictest confidence.

Where the investigation of the complaint requires consideration of the patient’s medical records, the practice manager must inform the patient or person acting on his/her behalf if the investigation will involve disclosure of information contained in those records to a person other than the practice or an employee of the practice.

The practice must keep a record of all complaints and copies of all correspondence relating to complaints, but such records must be kept separate from patients’ medical records.

The Advocacy People

The Advocacy People are a charity providing free and confidential services, for more information about what they offer please visit www.theadvocacypeople.org.uk/service-delivery-areas/milton-keynes.