Cannock Dental Practice
POLICY FOR HANDLING PATIENT COMPLAINTS
In this practice we take complaints very seriously indeed and try to ensure that all patients are pleased with their experience of our service. When patients complain, they are dealt with courteously and promptly so that the matter is resolved as quickly as possible. This procedure is based on these objectives.
Our aim is to react to complaints in the way in which we would want our complaint about a service to be handled. We learn from every mistake that we make and we respond to patients’ concerns in a caring and sensitive way.
The person responsible for dealing with any complaint about the service we provide is: Diane Wheeler
If a patient complains on the telephone or at the reception desk, we will listen to his or her complaint and offer to refer him or her to Diane Wheeler immediately.
If Diane Wheeler is not available at the time, then the patient will be told when he or she will be able to talk to the dentist and arrangements will be made for this to happen. The member of staff will take brief details of the complaint and pass them on. If we cannot arrange this within a reasonable period or if the patient does not wish to wait to discuss the matter, arrangements will be made for someone else to deal with it.
If the patient complains in writing the letter will be passed on immediately to: Diane Wheeler
If a complaint is about any aspect of clinical care or associated charges it will normally be referred to the dentist, unless the patient does not want this to happen.
We will acknowledge the patient’s complaint in writing and enclose a copy of this code of practice as soon as possible, normally within two working days. We will seek to investigate the complaint within ten working days of the complaint being received to give an explanation of the circumstances which led to the complaint. If the patient does not wish to meet us, then we will attempt to talk to him or her on the telephone. If we are unable to investigate the complaint within ten working days we will notify the patient, giving reasons for the delay and a likely period within which the investigation will be completed.
We will confirm the decision about the complaint in writing to the patient immediately after completing our investigation.
Proper and comprehensive reports are kept of any complaint received.
If patients are not satisfied with the result of our procedure then a complaint may be made to any one of the following:
NHS England central complaints:
Tel: 0300 311 2233 or e-mail England.contactus@nhs.net or by Post to: NHS England PO Box 16738 Redditch B979PT
General Dental Council fund a free and impartial service for private patients at:
Stephenson House
2 Cherry Orchard Road
Croydon
CR0 6BA
Tel: 02082 530800
e-mail: info@dentalcomplaints.org.uk
could also contact citizens advice bureaux on: 03444 111444
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman by logging into the website:
https://www.ombudsman.org.uk/making-complaints
You may also leave comments on the NHS Choices website: www.nhs.uk/nhs choices
Updated: 27th May 2014/reviewed on 4th June 2015/ re reviewed on 23rd October 2015
Review date: June 2016/ review and update carried out on12th August 2016
Updated and reviewed on 9th May 2017