Have your say! - your right to be heard

If you are a young person who uses the National Health Service (NHS) this information is for you.

It tells you how to give us your comments, suggestions or complaints about your health care.

In the NHS, we want to give you the best possible care and treatment. But there may be times when you think we could do better. And sometimes you may even want to tell us about something we’ve done well.

Whatever age you are, you have rights when it comes to your health including:

• the right to have your say and be listened to
• the right to complain if you’re not happy about something we’ve done.

We want you to tell us if you have a comment, suggestion or concern about your health care. This leaflet tells you how.

How to have your say

If you tell us what you think about the care you receive, we can make changes so that the health service is better for you and for other young people. 

What can I have my say about?

You can tell us about anything that is important to you. We want to hear your feedback – tell us what you think by giving us any comments, ideas and suggestions you have about the NHS.

• You may feel that health workers (doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and other people who look after your health) haven’t given you enough information
  about your care or treatment.  
• Maybe you think there should be more services for young people. 
• If you’re in hospital now or have been recently, you may want to tell us what you think about the food or the ward. 
• You may think that health workers should listen to you more, and talk to you as well as to your parents.

These are just examples. You can tell us what you think about anything to do with your care. Remember, you can tell us about good things too!

How can I have my say?

There are lots of ways to make yourself heard. You can choose. For example, you can:

• speak to any health worker looking after you about how you feel 
• put your comments in a suggestion box 
• talk to your parent, guardian or another adult you trust. You can ask them to tell us what you think if you don’t want to do it yourself 
• give your feedback directly to your local health board, which is in charge of NHS services in your area.

How do I give feedback to the health board?

Every health board has a department that deals with feedback. They’re keen to hear your opinion.
To have your voice heard, you need to get in touch with the right person.
To find out who to contact in your area you can:

• visit your local health board’s website to find a feedback form, phone number, email address or postal address 
• phone the NHS helpline on 0800 22 44 88 (textphone 18001 0800 22 44 88) for advice on who to contact.

Page last edited: 29 April 2010