OrthoActive Orthodontic Practice

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR PATIENT COMPLAINTS

In this practice we take complaints very seriously indeed and try to ensure that all patients are pleased with their experiences of our service. When patients complain, they are dealt with courteously and promptly so that the matter is resolved as quickly as possible. This procedure is based on these objectives.

Our aim is to react to complaints in the way in which we would want our complaint about a service to be handled. We learn from every mistake that we make and respond to patients concerns in a caring and sensitive way.

1. The person responsible for dealing with any complaints about the service which we provide is:

Kornel Csongrady

1. If a patient complains on the telephone or at the reception desk, we will listen to his or her complaint and offer to refer him or her to Kornel Csongrady immediately.

If Kornel Csongrady is not available at the time, then the patient will be told when she/he will be able to talk to the dentist and arragements will be made for this to happen. The member of staff will take brief details of the complaint and pass them on. If we cannot arrange this within a reasonable period or if the patient does not wish to wait to discuss the matter, arrangements will be made for someone else to deal with it.

1. If the patient complains in writing the letter will be passed on immediately to: Kornel Csongrady.
2. If a complaint is about any aspect of clinical care or associated charges it will normally be referred to the dentist, unless the patient does not want this to happen.
3. We will acknowledge the patient’s complaint in writing and enclose a copy of this code of practice as soon as possible normally within two working days. We will seek to investigate the complaint within ten working days of the complaint being received to give an explanation of the circumstances which lead to the complaint. If the patient does not wish to meet us, then we will attempt to talk to him or her on the telephone. If we are unable to investigate the complaint within ten working days we will notify the patient, giving reasons for the delay and a likely period within which the investigation will be completed.
4. We will confirm the decision about the complaint in writing to the patient immediately after completing our investigation.
5. Proper and comprehensive records are kept of any complaints received.
6. If patients are not satisfied with the result of our procedure then a complaint may be made to:

Kornel Csongrady

__________________________________________________________________________________

If a patient does not want to make their complaint direct to the practice, they should contact the NHS England contact centre as follows:

BY POST   NHS England, PO Box 16738, Redditch B97 9PT

BY EMAIL england.contactus@nhs.net

BY TELEPHONE 0300 311 2233