Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
| | A | | | B | | | C | | | D | | | E | | | F | | | G | | | H | | | I | | | J | | | K | | | L | | | M | |
| | N | | | O | | | P | | | Q | | | R | | | S | | | T | | | U | | | V | | | W | | | X | | | Y | |
When should it be done? of Complaints about NHS services
It is important that to make your complaint as soon as possible after the event. The NHS will usually only investigate complaints that are either:
- made within 6 months of the event; or
- made within 6 months of you realising that you have something to complain about, as long as that is not more than 12 months after the event itself.
These time limits can be waived if there are good reasons why you could not complain sooner.
There are some things that cannot be dealt with under the NHS complaints procedure. These include:
- complaints about private treatment,
- complaints about Local Authority Social Services,
- events about which you are already taking legal action.
Talk to the complaints manager, or the doctor, dentist or optician treating you, if you are unsure whether your complaint is definitely about the NHS.









