Now replaced and superseded by Your health, your rights factsheet Feedback and complaints: how to have a say about your care and have any concerns dealt with. (Version 1, produced in October 2012 - revision date October 2014)

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What if I'm not happy about the way the NHS has handled my complaint?

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO)

  • If the NHS has fully investigated your complaint and you are still not happy, you can ask the SPSO to consider your complaint further.
    • The SPSO cannot normally look at complaints more than 12 months after you became aware of the matter you want to complain about. Sometimes this time limit will not apply. Please contact the SPSO for more information.
    • The SPSO cannot look at matters that have been or are being considered in court.
  • If you are not happy with the way the NHS is dealing with your complaint, for example, if you think it is taking too long, you can contact the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
  • The Ombudsman does not take up all cases and will decide whether or not to investigate your complaint further.
  • The contact details for the Ombudsman are:

    The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO)
    Freepost EH641
    Edinburgh
    EH3 0BR
    Phone 0800 377 7330
    Text message 07900 494 372
    Email ask@spso.org.uk
    Website www.spso.org.uk

Page last edited: 11 April 2013

Who can help me with my complaint?How can I find out more?