If you want to complain about private care you received in the healthcare sector, you won’t be permitted to utilise the NHS complaints system unless the NHS has funded the private service. So, how can you make a complaint about private care?
In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to make a complaint against a private clinic and take you one step closer to attaining the compensation you deserve.
How Do I Complain about Private Healthcare?
If you want to learn how to complain about the care a doctor gave privately but feel a little daunted, don’t worry: you are more than entitled to question your care and potential medical negligence.
Here are some steps we recommend you take to make complaints about private hospitals:
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Gather information about your private care provider's negligence
Before contacting anyone, gather all the details about your concerns about your private care provider, including what procedure you had done and appointment dates. Or, in the case of care homes, detail specific negligent treatment or facilities you are concerned about.
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Directly contact your private care provider
To make an informal complaint, contact your private healthcare provider with the details of your concerns. Remember to keep a record of your communications.
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Follow your private care provider’s complaints procedure
Private health care practitioners should detail their complaints procedure on their website. If not, you should contact them directly and ask for a copy for your reference.
We recommend issuing your complaint in writing so you can keep a copy of your letter (and all correspondence) for your records. If you would like assistance writing your complaint letter, we will be happy to review it for you.
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Await the response
Your private care provider should respond within 20 to 30 working days by issuing an apology, offering compensation, or actioning your concerns in another way.
You may be invited to a meeting to discuss things further. You can attend the meeting if you wish, but if you really do not like the idea of attending, you are not obliged to do so; just insist on a full written response. Having a written record of communications can help our solicitors review your case accurately should you wish to seek our help.
How to Complain about a Private Healthcare Organisation: Taking Things Further
If you are left unsatisfied with the response from your private care practice, you can take things further by:
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Contacting the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service (ISCAS)
If your private healthcare provider is a member of ISCAS, you can escalate the complaint to this organisation for an independent and thorough review.
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Contacting Medical Solicitors
If the private care negligence has resulted in significant harm, you can seek legal advice from our expert solicitors. We will help you navigate the complaints process and pursue a legal compensation claim.
We have helped past clients win cases against private hospital staff and can also assist in complaining about optometry, dental, hospital, and GP negligence.
If you have any questions on how to complain about private healthcare, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert team of lawyers at Medical Solicitors. We can help guide you through the various stages of the complaints procedure and conduct any necessary legal action if you wish to make a claim.
We proudly offer our clients a No Win, No Fee agreement (Conditional Fee Agreement), meaning you have nothing to lose by contacting us.