Complaints

We always try to give you the best service possible, but there may be times when you feel this has not happened. This page aims to explain what to do if you have a complaint about the service you have received from the doctors or any member of staff within this practice.

Surgery complaints procedure

Our practice procedure is not able to deal with questions of legal liability or compensation. We hope you will use it to allow us to look into and, if necessary, put right any problems you have identified or mistakes that have been made.

At College Road Surgery we aim to give you a quick but thorough response, which answers your concerns properly. We aim to solve all problems at a practice level (Local Resolution).

If you use this procedure it will not affect your right to complain to the The CCG Patient Experience Team or any other Parliamentary or Health Service Ombudsman, if you feel that a local resolution has not been achieved or local resolution is not appropriate for the complaint matter. The appropriate contact telephone numbers for these services can be found below.

Who can complain?

Anyone who is receiving or has received NHS treatment can complain. In the event that the complainant is a child, the parent / guardian can complain on their behalf. Where a patient has died, a complaint can be made by a relative or person that had an interest in the deceased’s welfare.

If you feel that you are not able to make a complaint in person, you can nominate a person to complain on your behalf.

Please note that we have to respect our duty of confidentiality to patients and a patient’s consent will therefore be required if a complaint is not made by that patient in person.

How to complain

Ask to speak to the Practice Manager for the practice: Debbie Browning

Complete the necessary complaints paperwork:

If necessary, any complaints forms can either be posted to you or can be obtained from the Surgery Reception.

Ensure complaints are made within the specified time limits:

Please notify the surgery of any complaint as soon as possible in order for us to address any issues and improve our service for other patients. Please note, however, that the latest that a complaint should be made is:

Within 12 months of the incident or the matter coming to your attention
Our obligations to you

Upon receiving a complaint we will seek to:

Acknowledge your complaint within 2 working days of receipt
Investigate the complaint within 10 working days of the date the complaint is received.
Offer a meeting at the first available opportunity in order for you to discuss any matters with us. You may bring a friend or relative with you to this meeting.
Inform you of the outcome of the complaint within 28 days of the original date that the complaint was received.

Outcomes of the complaint

In carrying out this procedure we aim to address your concerns fully, provide you with an explanation and undertaken any necessary actions.

We hope that at the end of the process you feel that we have dealt with the matter thoroughly, however, if this is not the case and you wish to continue with your complaint, we will direct you to the appropriate authorities who will be able to help you. If you still remain dissatisfied once the practice based complaints procedure has been fully utilised you have the right to request an independent review of your complaint by contacting The Patient Experience Team. You should do this within six months of the end of ‘local resolution’

Further Contacts

The Patient Experience Team (BSC CCG) 0121 411 0415

Healthwatch Birmingham 0800 652 5278

Parliamentary and Heath Service Ombudsman 0345 015 4033

Patients with Particular Needs

Our Surgery is accessible to patients using a wheelchair. There is also washroom access.

Patient Confidentiality

We respect your right of privacy and keep all your health information confidential and secure.

It is important that the NHS keeps accurate and up-to-date records about your health and treatment so that those treating you can give you the best possible care.

The information may be used for management and audit purposes. However it is usually only available to, and used by, those involved in your care.

You have the right to know what information we hold about you. If you would like to see your records. Please contact our practice manager.

Zero Tolerance

We aim to treat our patients courteously at all times and expect our patients to treat our staff in a similarly respectful way. We take seriously any threatening, abusive or violent behavior against any of our staff or patients. If a patient is violent or abusive, they will be warned to stop their behavior. If they persist, we may exercise our right to take action to have them removed, immediately if necessary, from our list of patients.

Patient Confidentiality

We respect your right of privacy and keep all your health information confidential and secure.

It is important that the NHS keeps accurate and up-to-date records about your health and treatment so that those treating you can give you the best possible care.

The information may be used for management and audit purposes. However it is usually only available to, and used by, those involved in your care.

You have the right to know what information we hold about you. If you would like to see your records. Please contact our practice manager.