NHS Complaints in England

Last updated: June 2011

Regulations and principles

The Regulations governing NHS complaint handling that came into effect in April 2009 followed extensive public consultation and research by the Department of Health and were intended to bring about a fundamental shift in the approach to complaints handling within the NHS. With this aim in mind, the Regulations were drafted to allow healthcare providers the flexibility to adopt a truly “patient-focused” approach to complaints handling.

They form a statutory foundation on which to rest the principles of good complaint handling promoted by various bodies, such as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and previously by the Healthcare Commission.

All healthcare providers within the NHS have legal, contractual and professional obligations to provide an accessible and suitably responsive complaints procedure for service users.