Speak to our Patient Support and Complaints Team by calling 01934 647216 or by emailing PALSWeston@uhbw.nhs.uk
At University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) we are passionate about patient experience - we want every one of our patients, together with their relatives, carers and visitors, to receive the best possible service when being treated at or visiting our hospitals.
Sometimes however, things do not go to plan, and we want to assure you that whatever happens, we will always do our best to put things right and, equally importantly, try to stop it from happening again.
The aim of the Patient Support and Complaints team is to resolve any concerns, queries or questions that our patients, their families or members of the public raise with us about our Trust.
We are able to assist with problems and can liaise with staff on your behalf. We can provide:
We welcome any comments, suggestions or compliments you may have and would like you to tell us what you think of our Trust's services and what we can do to improve our services.
The Trust takes great pride in delivering exceptional service. If your experience does not match your expectations, please tell us about it.
We have a variety of ways in which you can contact us so you can use the method that suits you best.
Complete an online enquiry/concerns/compliment form.
Write to us - You can send your complaint in writing to University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Patient Support and Complaints Team, Grange Road, Uphill, Weston-super-Mare BS23 4TQ
Telephone - You can telephone us on 01934 647216 where you can leave a message with our answering service and one of team will contact you within two working days to take the details of your enquiry. In the majority of cases, your call will be returned on the same day.
Email - Send us an email at PALSWeston@uhbw.nhs.uk
For further information about our service, please click on the link for our Patient Support and Complaints Team leaflet which is available in:
The Patient Support and Complaints leaflet is also available in other languages/formats on request.
If you have a concern about the care that you are currently receiving, or wish to raise a concern on behalf of a current patient (either an inpatient or outpatient), we would recommend that in the first instance, you speak to a member of staff in the hospital who is providing this care. This could be a nurse or doctor or a non-clinical member of staff and they should be able to resolve this directly with you or find someone to help you. Our staff are trained to help patients resolve their concerns there and then wherever possible and may be able to offer you a quick and easy solution to your complaint.
If you feel that a member of staff has not adequately resolved your concerns or you wish to raise an issue directly with the Patient Support and Complaints Team, they will be happy to help you.
You can contact the team via one of the methods described above and a named Complaints Officer will be assigned to advise you how best to proceed with your enquiry or complaint.
We will involve you and work with you to achieve a satisfactory resolution; whether you are requesting information, providing feedback, raising a concern or making a complaint.
If you are a relative or carer, it may be necessary for us to know that the patient is happy for you to act on their behalf, for example, if your enquiry relates to confidential information about the patient's care or treatment. If this is the case, you can complete the consent form and send it to us, or the form can be requested by contacting the department. If you are not sure whether a consent form will be needed, please contact us and we will be happy to advise you.
If you would like some help with your complaint prior to submitting it to the Patient Support and Complaints Team, you can contact an independent complaints advocacy service.
The Advocacy People can help you by providing free, independent and confidential support for residents of North Somerset, Bristol, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Wiltshire. You can contact The Advocacy People directly on 0330 440 9000 or via their website at https://www.theadvocacypeople.org.uk/
Alternatively, SWAN Advocacy provides advocacy services in Somerset and you can contact them on 03333 447 928 or by email as appropriate to somerset@swanadvocacy.org.uk or southglos@swanadvocacy.org.uk
POWhER Advocacy provides similar services in Bath & North East Somerset (BANES) and Gloucestershire. Their website is https://www.pohwer.net/ and you can contact them on 0300 456 2370 or by email at powher@powher.net
If you feel that the Trust has not answered your questions adequately, please contact the Patient Support and Complaints Team so we can arrange for someone to look again at your concerns. If, having done this, you are still unhappy with the outcome, or you feel that the Trust has not dealt with your concerns appropriately, you have the right to seek advice from the PHSO.
The PHSO carries out independent investigations into complaints made by people who are unhappy with the treatment or service that has been provided to them through the NHS.
You can contact them by:
Telephone: 0345 015 4033
Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk