Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)
What are the aims of the service?
- To listen to your concerns, suggestions, comments or queries
- To help sort out problems quickly on behalf of patients, carers, or families
- To provide information on NHS services
- To advise and support patients, their families and carers
How can you access the service?
The nearest PALS service to Northam Surgery is at North Devon District Hospital. You can contact them
PALS provides a service to help patients and public find their way around the NHS and help them deal with any problems they might encounter.
Independent Advice and Help
Independent Complaints Advocacy Service
The Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) is a national service that supports people who wish to make a complaint about their NHS care or treatment. Contact your local ICAS office through the hospital manager or PALS, or by calling 0845 120 3782.
What to do if you are still dissatisfied
If you remain dissatisfied with the response to your complaint, you have the right to take your complaint to the Parlimentary and Health Service Ombudsman, although these can be waived if there is a good reason to do so.
If you have any questions about whether the Ombudsman will be able to help you, or about how to make a complaint, you can contact their helpline on 0345 015 4033, email phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk or fax 0300 061 4000. Further information about the Ombudsman is available at www.ombudsman.org.uk.
You can write to the Ombudsman at:
The Parliament and Health Service Ombudsman, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP.