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LIVING
How to complain
If you're not happy with the
treatment you've received on the
NHS follow these five steps:
1. Complain to your dentist
Raise the matter either in person,
or by letter with your dentist or
practice manager. If this doesn't
work, ask for a copy of their NHS
complaints procedure.
If you don't want to deal with the
dental practice directly, try the NHS
in your region.
• England complain to NHS England
• Scotland complain to
NHS Scotland
• Wales complain to NHS Wales
• Northern Ireland complain to
NI Direct
2. Complain to the ombudsman
If you have made a formal complaint
to your NHS dental practice or the
NHS and feel that it has not been
resolved, you can refer the issue to
the ombudsman for your region:
• England contact the Parliamentary
and Health Service Ombudsman
(PHSO)
• Scotland contact the Scottish
Public Services Ombudsman
(SPSO)
• Wales contact the Public Services
Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW)
• Northern Ireland contact the
Northern Ireland Public Services
Ombudsman (NIPSO)
The ombudsman can act as an
independent referee in complaints
where administrative or service
failures have occurred.
3. Raise concerns with the General
Dental Council
If the problem is serious and there is
a risk to other patients, you should
contact the General Dental Council
(GDC). which regulates dental
professionals across the UK. report
your dentist
4. Raise concerns with the Care
Quality Commission
NHS patients in England can also
register feedback with the Care
Quality Commission (CQC) The CQC
doesn't settle individual disputes,
but your feedback will help it decide
whether to investigate the dental
practice in question.
5. File a personal injury claim
If you've had poor treatment from
an NHS dentist, a final option may
be to file a personal injury claim.
Contact a solicitor for advice on how
to begin proceedings.
Judith Ozkan is an experienced healthwriter with a particular interest in long-term conditions.
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