Complaints Policy and Procedures

Code of Practice for patients who wish to raise concerns

 

Complaints Policy

At Family Dental Care we want to ensure that all our patients are pleased with their experience of our service.  We take complaints very seriously indeed.  If a patient makes a complaint, we will deal with the matter courteously and promptly so that it is resolved as quickly as possible.  Our complaints policy and procedures are based on these objectives.

We display the General Dental Council’s 6 core principles for ensuring that we get the most from patient feedback and complaints for the benefit of all. The General Dental Council’s 6 core principles are displayed at the reception of our practice.

At Family Dental Care, we have an effective complaints system in place to ensure that identifying, receiving, recording, handling and responding to any comments, observations, concerns or complaints occurs within a strict timetable that is clearly documented.  Our Code of Practice for patients who wish to raise concerns is displayed in reception and all patients and visitors should feel confident that they will be listened to and responded to without fear of discrimination or recrimination.  Our Complaints Policy and Procedures are displayed at reception in Practice Information folder on magazine bookshelf.

We aim to ensure that any complainant is treated sensitively and in a manner that respects their human rights and diversity.

We recognize that a complaint is any expression of dissatisfaction with our service, treatment or advice and that a complaint can be made by a variety of methods, including verbally, by sign language or in writing.

In situations where a patient may lack confidence to express their views, or require help to do so, they will be supported by helpful team members.  All patients’ complaints are fully documented and investigated and are dealt with fairly.

At Family Dental Care we view complaints as an opportunity to improve our service delivery and to learn lessons that will help us make changes with the intention of avoiding a repetition of any similar complaint.

To help us learn lessons from complaints, we track and analyze all our complaints to identify trends that will help us improve our service.

Our complaints procedures are monitored and reviewed regularly and the named contact who is accountable for doing this is Iresha Hapugoda, the practice manager.

 

This Policy was implemented on 22/05/2019.

This policy and relevant procedures will be reviewed annually and are due for review on 20/02/2025 or prior to this date in accordance with new guidance or legislative changes or as a result of learnings following a complaint.

 

The Family Dental Care Code of Practice for patients who wish to raise concerns

In Family Dental Care we place great emphasis on meeting and whenever possible, exceeding our patients’ expectations.  We try to ensure that all patients are pleased with their experience of our service and we take any concerns a patient may have very seriously.

If you have a concern regarding any aspect of your care, please let us know.  We will do all that we can to resolve your concern to your satisfaction promptly and professionally.

Our aim is to respond to your concerns in a caring and sensitive way.

The person responsible for dealing with any concerns about the service we provide in this practice is the practice manager, Iresha Hapugoda.

If you raise an issue you are concerned or unhappy about on the telephone or at the reception desk, after listening to a description of the problem the person with whom you raise your concern will try to resolve the issue to your satisfaction immediately.

If the person with whom you raise your concern is unable to resolve the issue for any reason, we will contact the present Business Development Manager of Dentex immediately.  Should he/she be unavailable at the time, we will advise you when they will be available, and arrangements will be made for you to meet or speak with him/her.

If for any reason the Business Development manager is going to be unable to meet you or speak with you at a time that is convenient to you, we will arrange for someone at the practice to take responsibility for dealing with your concern or complaint.

The team member with whom you first raised your concern will take brief details from you and pass these to Iresha Hapugoda, practice manager so she can familiarise her with your concern prior to meeting you or speaking with you.

If you choose to write to us to express your concern rather than raising it verbally, your letter or email will be passed on to the relevant person immediately.

We will acknowledge any concerns you raise in writing within 3 working days and we will also include a copy of this Code of Practice with our response.  We will investigate your concern and report back within ten working days of it being received.  If we are unable to complete our investigations within ten working days for any reason, we will notify you, giving reasons for the delay and the likely period within which the investigation will be completed.

We will confirm the outcome of the investigation and any decisions made in writing.

We will keep proper and comprehensive records of any concerns or complaints received.

We will do all we can to resolve your issue, concern or complaint to your satisfaction. If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with the outcome or the procedure, we will advise you of other avenues open to you for raising concerns.   These are:

The Dental Complaints Service for complaints about private treatment.
Address: Stephenson House, 2 Cherry Orchard, Croydon, CR0 6BA
Phone: 0208 253 0800
Email: [email protected]

The General Dental Council (GDC) (the clinicians’ professional regulator].
Address: 37 Wimpole Street, London, W1M 8DQ
Phone: 0207 167 6000
Email: [email protected]

NHS England for complaints about NHS treatment.
Address: NHS England, PO Box 6738, Redditch, B97 9PT
Phone: 0300 311 2233
Email: [email protected] with: ‘For the attention of the complaints team’ in the subject line.

The Care Quality Commission (the regulator for all of health and social care)
Address: Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE14PA
Phone: 03000 616161
Email: [email protected]