Who can complain?

You can complain if you have:

• had or are having NHS care or treatment, or
• visited or used NHS services or facilities.

You can complain for someone else if you:

• have their agreement to complain (the patient would also need to agree to let staff look at their health records if necessary)
• are a parent, guardian, or main carer and your child is not mature enough to understand how to make a complaint
• have a welfare power of attorney or a welfare guardianship order for someone who cannot make decisions for themselves, and the order specifies that you have the power to make a complaint about health care
• are a relative of, or had a relationship with, a patient who has died and you were concerned about how they were treated before they died, or
• are acting as an advocate for the patient.

Page last edited: 30 July 2010