POhWER's Independent Healthcare Complaints Advocacy service is free to everyone.

They can advise and support people to make a complaint about the NHS service they have received.

They can support you to use the complaints process to complain about any NHS funded treatment including care provided by NHS hospitals, GPs, pharmacies, ambulance services, dentists, district nurses, opticians and mental health services. If the NHS paid for treatment at a private hospital or pays all or part of someone’s care home fees this is also covered by the NHS complaints process.

You can complain about your own care and treatment or someone else’s but you may need to get their consent before the NHS will investigate.

Complaints need to be raised within 12 months of the incident happening, or within 12 months of you finding out of the issue.

If you have done everything you can to resolve your complaint with the local service and you are not happy with their final decision, POhWER can support you to take your complaint to the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). This is the final stage of the NHS Complaints Process.

Phone: 0300 456 2370