There is no clear, independent complaints procedure for private health care treatment. Private hospitals and clinics have to register with the local authority and so the local authority can deal with some service related problems. However with there being no independent regulator, court is a more immediate possibility. Plenty of links to Government and other third party sources have been included below so consult those if you are at all unsure. For some general information regarding who can complain, independent advice, timing and financial compensation issues please click here.

Complain to the hospital: There is no clear, independent complaints procedure for private health care treatment. As with NHS complaints, the first stage is to complain to your hospital direct. Wherever possible you should tell someone close to the cause of your complaint (e.g. a doctor, nurse or receptionist). However, in the private sector, hospitals often have a separate contract with individual consultants or surgeons, who are not directly employed by the hospital. If the complaint includes different aspects of your care such as cost of treatment, quality of food, treatment complaints (such as problems with medications you have been prescribed), it may be necessary to complain to more than one person.

Complain to the Health Authority/Health Board: If you are not satisfied with the response from a private hospital, you may be able to take the complaint up with your local Health Authority (Health Board in Scotland and Health & Social Services Board in Northern Ireland) or convener, contact details are given on this site.  Private hospitals and clinics are regulated by the Registered Homes Act 1984 and must register with the Local Health Authority who are required to inspect them twice a year. However they will not deal with clinical complaints (complaints about the treatment provided by your private doctor) unless it is relevant to the registration requirements.

Find your local LHA or CHC here

Other complaints procedures: If you have been unable to get a satisfactory response to your complaint, there is no independent inspectorate or ombudsman so you may need to turn to the courts to settle your dispute (See Step 4).

Complaints about the conduct of a Doctor: The GMC has powers to discipline all registered medical practitioners, whether in the NHS or private sector. It considers complaints about serious failures of care, violent or indecent behaviour, dishonesty, etc.

Complaints about the conduct of nurses, midwives or health visitors: Complaints relating to their attitude or behaviour are made to the United Kingdom Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC). The NMC will investigate allegations of professional misconduct or unfitness to practice for reasons of ill health. Complaints should be sent in writing to the Professional Conduct Department Manager giving details of the name of the nurse, midwife or health visitor, the dates of the alleged incident or pattern of behaviour and an outline of the misconduct. There is no time limit for making a complaint to the NMC. You can call the NMC's advice service (see link to their website below) to have an informal chat before you decide whether to make a complaint.

Complaints about the conduct of other health professionals: Complaints relating to the attitude or behaviour of other health related staff including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech & language therapists, dietitians, radiographers, chiropodists and other therapists, but NOT doctors, nurses, dentists, opticians or pharmacists or reidential homes, should be made to the Health Professions Council (HPC). The HPC's Investigating Committee will check a complaint or allegation to determine if there is a case and the nature of the case. If so, it then goes to either the Conduct and Competence Committee or the Health Committee.

Court: Failing all else you can still go to court to resolve your dispute. Details of small claims court and other procedures are given in the Legal Section of this site. You can also contact the Community Legal Service (justask.org.uk) that gives access to free advice. Otherwise your local Citizens' Advice Bureau will give you advice and will sometimes organise free legal representation for you.