Anyone can complain about the treatment or care they have received from Solent NHS Trust. However; should you be making a complaint about someone else’s care, you will need to prove that you have their agreement to do so. We are unable to discuss a patient’s care without their permission.

You can either write to us with a signed statement confirming that they give permission for you to act on their behalf, or a member of the PALS and Complaints Service can send you a consent form which the patient can then sign and return to us.

Consent is not required if the issue is about:

• your child’s care and they are under the age of 16
• the care of an elderly relative who is unable to give their consent. You must however advise us of the nature of the disability which prevents them from giving their consent

• a relative who has died, as long as you are a close relative and would have a clear interest in their care

• If you have Power of Attorney (POA) or a legal document for a person which confirms you have explicit consent.

Things which cannot be managed through the complaints process include;

• complaints about private medical or dental care
• complaints which you are seeking legal action about
• complaints about Data Protection or Freedom of Information requests
• Staff members employed by the Trust who wish to make a complaint about another member of staff

• Please give as much relevant information as possible, including your full name, date of birth, address and contact telephone number.
• Aim to highlight your experience with Solent NHS Trust as soon as the issue has occurred / after the event as all complaints should be made within twelve months of the date of the incident.  

Each complaint will be carefully investigated by the Trust. Following receipt of your complaint, a Complaints Co-ordinator will contact you by either email correspondence, by letter format, or by telephone, to formally acknowledge receipt of your complaint. This will happen within three working days and you will be informed of our expected response timescale.

Your Complaints Co-ordinator will keep in touch with you to keep you up to date of our progress.

During our investigation, you may be contacted by the Investigating Officer, who may wish to speak to you about your complaint or offer you the opportunity to meet in person. You do not have to agree to this meeting, but sometimes it is the best way to resolve concerns quickly, and to your liking.

Following completion of our investigation, you will receive a written response from a member of our Executive Team. Our reply will advise you of the investigation undertaken, who investigated your complaint, and any learning or actions we are taking as a result of the feedback you have raised.

If you are not satisfied with our reply and have given us the opportunity to exhaust all investigation routes (which will involve meeting with the service directly) you can contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) who will consider reviewing your case.

If you have any questions about whether the Ombudsman may be able to help you the contact details are:

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP

Enquiries: 03450154033
Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk