Complaints and other feedback

It is important that GP surgeries listen to feedback whether it  is provided formally or informally.

There are many ways for patients to provide their feedback to us. Patients can simply email the practice, at any time, via gp.n84005@nhs.net

Patients can also telephone us or write into the practice.

How to make a complaint

As much as we try to provide all our patients with a safe, caring and effective service there may be times when you have a concern about your care that you want to raise with the practice.

Before making a formal complaint

Before making a formal complaint you might want to discuss the matter verbally with the Practice Manager. They wont always be available right away but will usually be able to phone you back within one working day. Alternatively you can email the manager on gp.n84005@nhs.net

The practice will try to resolve your complaint informally in the first instance but if you would like copies of our patient complaint form, or simply wish to chat your concerns through then please contact the management team on 01704 501500 or via gp.n84005@nhs.net

In the majority of cases this can lead to your concerns being resolved and sparing you the trouble of having to commit your concerns to writing.

Making a formal complaint

Sometimes a patient will feel so strongly about a matter that they want to want to make a formal complaint.

Learn more about how you can make a formal complaint.

Whether you raise your matter verbally or in writing we aim to treat all patient concerns with respect and compassion.

The GP Patient Survey

The GP Patient Survey is an independent survey run by Ipsos on behalf of NHS England. The survey is sent out to over two million people across England. The results show how people feel about their GP practice

The surveys are sent to a randomly selected sample of patients for each practice between January and April each year. The results are normally published in July

Friends and Family Test

The NHS Friends and Family Test (FFT) was created to help service providers and commissioners understand whether patients are happy with the service provided, or where improvements are needed. It's a quick and anonymous way to give your views after receiving NHS care or treatment.

Since the FFT was launched in 2013, millions of patients have submitted feedback. It's used by most NHS services, including community care, hospitals, mental health services, maternity services, GP and dental practices, emergency care, and patient transport

We collect FFT feedback via text messages which are sent out to patients shortly after they have been to the surgery for an appointment. There is also a paper version available at reception.

Compliments and other feedback

We are always pleased to get any feedback from our patients. It all helps us to better understand how patients feel about the service we provide.

You can send feedback to us in any written form. If your comments are negative we would prefer it if you gave us the chance to consider it before you go to any of the many public forums. It could be a relatively simple thing to put right.

If you have positive feedback for the surgery or any of our large clinical team then of course we would be delighted to hear it gp.n84005@nhs.net

Patient Participation Group (PPG)

We have an active patient participation group (PPG) at the practice.

A meeting was held on 26th March 2024.  The meeting aim was a collaborative effort for all practices locally.  A feedback form was handed out and all participants thoughts are currently being collated.

PPGs have an increasingly important role to play in helping to give patients a say in the way services are delivered to best meet the whole patient population needs.

PPGs can help GPs to develop an equal partnership with their patients. They can help them to communicate accurately and honestly with individual patients, and with the wider community about key health matters and promotion of health awareness and self-care.

They can also help to reduce costs and improve services by identifying changes that the practice may not have considered, allowing resources to be used more efficiently. What is more, they can develop mutually supportive networks for patients and the practice, outside of individual appointments.

You can join Cumberland House Surgery PPG by emailing us directly with an expression of interest: gp.n84005@nhs.net.

Healthwatch

Healthwatch Sefton is your health and social care champion. If you use GPs and hospitals, dentists, pharmacies, care homes or other support services, they want to hear about your experiences.

They have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to your feedback and improve standards of care. We also help people to find reliable and trustworthy information and advice.

We work closely with Healthwatch and monitor the feedback provided via their patient experience website.