Support and complaints

We aim to provide the highest quality care for you and your family and take any complaints very seriously.

If you feel unhappy about any aspect of your care, we advise you to speak with your clinician first.  We aim to resolve your concerns informally whenever possible.

If you still feel that your concerns are unresolved, you can approach the Trust to make a formal or informal complaint using our online form.

If English is not your first language you can make a written complaint in your preferred language, and we will arrange to have this translated.

You can complain:

• if you are, or have been, a patient of the Trust
• on behalf of your children or any relatives unable to complain themselves because of physical or mental incapacity
• if you are not a patient but have been affected or are likely to be affected by something the Trust has done or not done

If you feel unable to complain yourself, you can give your consent to someone else (a friend or a relative for example) to complain on your behalf. We will need to make sure they are acting with your permission before we can respond.

When should you complain

You should complain within six months of the event(s) happening, or within six months of becoming aware of the problem you want to complain about. We may waive this time limit if we feel you have good reasons for not having been able to complain earlier.

Expected response

It is important to think about what you want to happen as a result of your complaint, whether made orally or in writing. Do you want an apology? An explanation? To see changes or improvements made? Do you want people to acknowledge their mistakes? Assurance that the same thing cannot happen again? This helps ensure we understand what actions might resolve your complaint.

Alternatively, you can contact our PALS service, or write to us;

The Chief Executive
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
120 Belsize Lane
London
NW3 5BA