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Give your NHS complaint a voice.

Clear steps, plain English, and real outcomes. No intimidation. No runaround.

Start your complaint Know your rights

How it works

Tell us what happened

Share a clear account of your experience. We’ll help you organise your thoughts so they’re easy to understand.

Get a tailored complaint

Based on what you tell us, we’ll draft a professional letter in plain English that outlines the issue and desired outcome.

Track & Escalate

Keep tabs on responses and know when to move your complaint up the chain if you don’t get an answer in time.

Start a complaint

Your rights

You’re allowed to complain

Anyone receiving NHS care or planning to can complain about poor service, dishonesty or unsafe practices. This includes carers and family members.

You must get a timely response

Services should acknowledge your complaint within three working days and explain how long a full response will take. They must keep you updated if delays arise.

You can escalate to the Ombudsman

If you’re unhappy with the outcome, you can take your complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, who is independent of the NHS.

Resources

Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)

Get on‑the‑spot help and advice from the NHS about your care.

NHS complaints procedure

Learn about the official steps for complaining through NHS England and local services.

Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman

Independent body that investigates complaints after local resolution has failed.

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

Regulator of health and social care services; check reports and raise concerns.

Templates (coming soon)

We’re preparing ready‑to‑use templates tailored to common issues. Check back soon to download sample letters for different types of complaints.

Delays
Staff conduct
Dishonesty
Safety

Frequently asked questions

Will complaining affect my care?
No. NHS providers must treat patients fairly regardless of whether they raise concerns. Complaints are confidential and do not influence the clinical care you receive.
What evidence helps?
Keep copies of correspondence, appointment dates and any notes you took at the time. Clear timelines help services investigate more quickly.
Can I stay anonymous?
Yes. You may submit a complaint through someone else or request anonymity. However, providing your details makes it easier to investigate and respond.
What if deadlines are missed?
You should receive an acknowledgement within three working days and a response within a reasonable timeframe. If not, you can take your complaint to the next level, such as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Contact

We read everything. We cannot provide legal advice.

Email us directly at listen@nhscomplaints.com