Feedback and complaints
Your comments and suggestions are important to us, please complete the form below to send them to us. Please only use this form for comments about the practice and suggestions as to how we can improve our service to you.
We endeavour to offer the best service possible at all times, but there may be occasions when you feel that you wish to express dissatisfaction.
The purpose of this page is to explain what to do if you have a complaint about the services that Frome Valley Medical Centre provides for you.
We offer an in-house procedure to deal with your concerns. The procedure does not deal with matters of legal liability or compensation, but we hope that you will use this process to give us an opportunity of reviewing and, where necessary, correcting any problems that may have arisen or mistakes that have been made.
Please note that we have a duty of confidentiality to patients and that written consent will be required from the patient if the patient directly concerned does not make the complaint.
If you wish to make a complaint please use the above form in the first instance.
Following the investigation of your complaint we will write a report recording the background to the complaint, the investigation process, the outcome and the proposed remedy (or remedies).
It is our aim that the interval between receiving a complaint and producing a written report should be no more than 10 working days. We hope to address your concerns fully, provide you with an explanation and discuss any action that may be taken.
At the end of this process we hope that you will feel satisfied that the matter has been fully resolved. If, however, this is not the case we can suggest ways to take it further with appropriate authorities.
We hope that most problems can be sorted out easily and quickly, often at the time they arise and with the person concerned. If your problem cannot be sorted out in this way and you wish to make a complaint, we would like you to let us know as soon as possible – ideally, within a matter of days – because this will enable us to establish what happened more easily. If it is not possible to do that, please let us have details of your complaint: within twelve months of the incident that caused the problem or, if you don’t discover the problem immediately, within twelve months of discovering that you have a problem, provided that the time is reasonable. We will try to answer complaints outside these time limits if we can.
Complaints should be made in writing (a complaints form is available from reception), and addressed to:
Jacqui Bath, Operations Manager
Frome Valley Medical Centre
2 Court Road
Frampton Cotterell
Bristol BS36 2DE
Telephone: 01454 772153
Or you can use our feedback form above.
Alternatively, you may ask for an appointment with Jacqui Bath, in order to discuss your concerns verbally. She will explain the complaints procedure to you and will make a written record of the meeting and provide you with a copy of it.
Whether you complain in writing or verbally, it will be a great help if you are as specific as possible about your complaint.
Please load this document for complete details of our Complaints Procedure: FVMC - Complaints Procedure Leaflet
How to make a complaint about an NHS service
If you’re unhappy with an NHS service, then it’s worthwhile talking about your concerns with us early on, as we may be able to sort it quickly.
If you would prefer to speak to someone else outside of our surgery, then you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). This is a free, confidential and independent service that you can use to talk to someone who understands the complaints process and can offer some guidance and support.
Complaining about NHS services
You can find more information about making a complaint about NHS services on the NHS website.
Complaining on behalf of someone else
Please note that we keep strictly to the rules of medical confidentiality. If you are complaining on behalf of someone else, we have to know that you have their permission to do so. A note of authorisation signed by the person concerned will, therefore, be needed and is included in the complaints form available from reception.
If you need help with your complaint
The SWAN Advocacy Service provides free, independent support and assistance to people who on live in South Gloucestershire and who want to make a complaint about an NHS service.
Further information about the NHS Complaints Advocacy Service can be accessed:
- South Gloucestershire - South West Advocacy Network (swanadvocacy.org.uk)
- By ringing 03333 447928
What we shall do
We shall acknowledge your complaint within three working days and aim to have looked into your complaint within ten working days of the date when you raised it with us. You will then receive a formal reply in writing or you may be invited to meet with the person(s) concerned to attempt to resolve the issue.
When we look at your complaint, we shall aim to:
- Find out what happened and why;
- Make it possible for you to discuss the problem with those concerned, if you would like this;
- Make sure you receive an apology, where this is appropriate;
- Identify what we can do to make sure the problem doesn’t happen again and how we can learn from it;
- Provide you with a written report detailing how the complaint was considered and the conclusions reached;
- Advise you of the appropriate action necessary should you wish to take your complaint further.
Complaining to NHS England
You are able to complain directly to NHS England regarding concerns you may have about GPs, Dentists, Pharmacies and Opticians within South Gloucestershire. Complaints should be directed to:
NHS England
- Email: england.contactus@nhs.net with "For the attention of the complaints team" in the subject line
- Phone: 0300 311 22 33
- Use the British Sign Language service
For more detailed information, visit the NHS England website.
Complaining to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
If you remain dissatisfied with the response to your complaint, you have the right to ask the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to review your case. This should be done within two months of receipt of our final report. You can contact the Ombudsman at the following address:
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Citygate
Mosley Street
Manchester M2 3HQ
Tel: 0345 015 4033
Online: Visit the website