Number of written complaints about NHS increases 4.9 per cent

There were 208,400 written complaints received by the NHS during 2016/172 - up 4.9 per cent on the previous year, NHS Digital figures show.

The report, entitled Data on Written Complaints in the NHS, 2016/17, shows numbers of complaints about both primary and secondary care.

There was a 1.4 per cent year-on-year increase in secondary care complaints with 117,800 complaints received in 2016/17, up from 116,200 in 2015/1611, but a smaller proportion of resolved secondary care complaints were fully upheld than the previous year.

NHS Complaints Procedures In England

This briefing paper from the House of Commons Library provides information on the standard NHS complaints procedures and also the other options available to patients.

Rapid Resolution and Redress Scheme for Severe Birth Injury Consultation

This PHE consultation seeks views on the proposed investigations into severe avoidable birth injury and the support and compensation scheme. This consultation closes on 26 May 2016.

Follow-up report to the March 2015 Patients Association publication on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

It is now two years since the Patients Association issued its initial report setting out the failings of the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman (PHSO) in dealing with complaints raised bypatients and their relatives about their experience of NHS services (Patients Association: 2014).  Two years on from the first report we find ourselves in a similar position. Instead of a decrease in complaints, an increase is being observed, for example in June 2016 there were 68 separate cases of individuals raising concerns.

Working Together To Investigate Health And Social Care Complaints

This report from the Local Government Ombudsman outlines how adopting an integrated approach to investigating complaints about health and social care can lead to significant benefits. It discovered that many of the problems experienced have been caused by the complex way in which health and social care is provided at a local level.

Number of written complaints about NHS falls by 4 per cent

Data on Written Complaints in the NHS 2015-16 from NHS Digital contains new details on who complained; what the complaints were about; where they were made; and whether the complaints were upheld.

There were 198,739 written complaints received over the last financial year(2) - the equivalent of around 544 per day - which was 8,668 (4.2 per cent) fewer than in 2014-15.

Help improve how the NHS learns from unexpected deaths

When someone dies unexpectedly while under NHS care, it is important that the correct processes are in place to find out why. 

The Care Quality Commission is looking at this issue and wants to hear your views.

Data on written complaints in the NHS, Q4 2015/16

This new quarterly collection from HSCIC (annual prior to 2015/16) is a count of written complaints made by or on behalf of patients.

Data is for complaints about NHS hospital and community health services in England.