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  • Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust aims to provide high quality services to all patients and visitors and welcomes comments and ideas from service users.
     
  • However there will be times when we fail to meet your needs and you feel that a comment or complaint is needed.
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  • You may also feel that you have had a good level of service for a compliment.
Easy read leaflet
  • The aim of this leaflet is to help you to make your comments or complaints and to help you do so in a way that other people will understand.

How do I make a complaint?

 

Person feeling unhappy

We would very much like you to tell us straightaway if you are unhappy with your care or treatment, as most problems can be sorted.

Hospital staff

Also, there are two options at the hospital for you to provide us with comments or complaints about the treatment that you or your family may have had.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Online help centre

This service is for patients, family members, friends and carers who need somewhere to turn to for help, advice and support.

Information sign

PALS is where you can go to get information.

They can help with problems or worries that you may have about hospital services.

Hospital staff

If you have spoken to staff on the ward or clinic and your issue has not been sorted then you can contact PALS.

Easy read page

If you feel you are still having issues after you have contacted PALS, then they can give you information on how to make a formal complaint.

Online help centre

The PALS service runs:

Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (if a PALS Officer is not around they will reply to you as quickly as they can.)

Person answering phone

The PALS office is by the link corridor and Bernard Meade Wing.

Telephone number: 020 8934 3993

Email: khft.pals@nhs.net

Formal complaints process

 

Man listening

If you are still unhappy, please write to the Chief Executive at the address in this leaflet.

You can also call the Chief Executive’s Complaints Office on 020 8546 7711, extension 2250 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday or email your concerns to: khft.complaints.team@nhs.net

Complaints policy

Your complaint will not in any way affect any future treatment you may need.

Three people

Comments are welcomed for all users of our services.

The trust aims to ensure the treatment of patient care to all patients, whatever their age, colour, background, nationality, physical or mental disability, race or religion.

Confidential

It is important that the Trust Board understands issues that are raised at the hospital.

When your complaint is shared with them, they will keep any information private.

Independent people

If you would like independent support for your complaint (this means help from someone who has no connection with the hospital) you can contact the Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Service (IHCAS).

This is a free service that can help you to make a complaint about the National Health Service (NHS).

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For details of your local office please visit www.pohwer.net or call their helpline on 020 3553 5960.

Rethink logo

If you are a resident of the London Borough Of Richmond upon thames contact Rethink Advocacy on 0300 790 0559, or for further details please visit www.rethinkadvocacy.org.uk

Useful contacts

Online support centre

Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)

Direct line: 020 8394 3993

Internal extension: 3993 or 993

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Chief Executive’s Complaint’s Office

Telephone: 020 8546 7711 ext 2250

What to expect when you make a formal complaint

3 working days

When a complaint is sent we will investigate. We will then:

Reply within 3 working days.

Investigation

Look at the complaint and investigate.

25 working days

Provide a detailed reply to the complaint within 25 working days where possible or a timeline as agreed with you.

Sitting at table

Keep the person informed of the way things are going and if the investigation will take longer.

Meet with the person where needed.

Use the complaint to make any needed changes to the service.

Computers

Log your complaint on our computer.

Confidential

Please note two very useful points:

In the interests of privacy, we must have the patient’s consent to continue with the complaint and to give information to a third party.

We will only look at complaints within 12 months of you being aware of the problem.

Comments

 

People talking

If you have any comments or ideas that you think would help us to make our services better, please raise the issue with the head of the department involved or let our PALS team know.

Compliments

 

Nurse

The staff in the hospital are always happy to have a positive comment.

You can do this by writing a short note to the Chief Executive and your comments will be passed on to the staff.

Braille

If you would like the information contained in this leaflet in an another format such as large print, audiotape, braille or in another language, please call 020 8934 2003.