Overview

NHS Complaints Advocacy is a national service which can help you if you, or someone you know, has not had the care or treatment you expect to receive from your NHS services and you want to complain.  Advocacy is there to help you understand and go through the complaints process. Advocates will support you until you receive a satisfactory conclusion or until you no longer want advocacy support.  Advocacy is a free and confidential service. Advocates are independent to the NHS.

The advocacy service is a free and confidential service available to anyone who wants support to make a complaint to the NHS.

• An opportunity to talk to someone  independent of the NHS
• The individual assistance you need to feel supported to make your complaint and throughout the complaints process.
• Information about how to make a complaint and who to contact.

You can complain about any aspect of NHS care and services but might include:

• Poor treatment or care
• The attitude of staff
• Poor communication
• Waiting times
• Lack of information
• Failure to diagnose a condition.

If you are receiving an NHS service from any provider and are unhappy with the treatment or care that you receive, you can speak to the service directly and talk to them about your experience.
Your NHS Trust will have a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (known as PALS). They are there to give you advice, support and information on health-related matters. You can find your local PALS team by searching on the NHS Choices website, or by asking your GP or hospital for their contact details.  You might find that they can help to resolve the matter with you immediately.  You can raise concerns or pursue a complaint on behalf of someone else, such as a friend or relative, if they are unable to do so themselves.