We understand that you might need support to make a complaint about an NHS Service. In partnership with Luminus , home of Healthwatch Surrey , Surrey Independent Living Charity (SILC) are able to provide free, independent support and assistance to people who live in Surrey. They work to ensure people can represent their own interests as far as possible and not to offer advice on how they think an individual should act.
You can make a complaint about hospitals, GPs, mental health services, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, opticians, 111, walk-in centres, NHS-funded private care and more.
Details of other advocacy support and contact details can be found on our Advocacy page.
Most of us use the NHS at some point in our lives and many of us use these services regularly. Whilst the NHS works hard to make sure that people are satisfied with the services sometimes things do go wrong. The NHS complaints procedure is in place to make sure that issues are resolved at a local level.
Advocates support you through the whole NHS complaints process. They explain the options available and support you to pursue your chosen course of action. They only do what you ask them to and will not try to tell you what to do. They do not investigate or encourage complaints, nor do they offer legal or medical advice. The service is free, independent and confidential.
SILC can provide information about the complaints procedure for people who wish to make a complaint by themselves, but just need a little bit more guidance before they start. In many cases, we can also provide an advocate who can discuss your particular situation, explain the complaints procedure, and possibly help you to draft a letter or attend a meeting with you.
SILC’s advocates will seek the outcome you want whether it is a written explanation from the NHS on why something went wrong, a simple explanation about your care or treatment, a meeting with a senior NHS person, an apology or an explanation of how the NHS will improve.
If you would like help or to find out more, please contact Surrey Independent Living Charity (SILC) via
Telephone: 01483 310 500 (10am-4.30pm Monday – Friday excluding bank holidays)
You can also self-refer online by completing and returning this Referral Form or complete the form below if you are happy to be contacted back.
A member of staff is available on the phone: Monday – Friday, 10am – 4.30pm. Outside of these hours there is an answering machine service. Your call will be returned within 3 working days.