If you have a complaint about any ‘primary’ care service, it is usually best to approach the person in charge of providing the service, for example, the Practice Manager at your GP surgery. They may be able to deal with your complaint quickly and easily and help you to feel happier about the service being provided to you or someone you care about.

If you cannot resolve your complaint informally, you can make a formal complaint to the service provider. Each service provider will have their own complaints policy, which will tell you who to contact and how and when they will respond to your complaint.

West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board

If you feel unable to complain directly to the service provider yourself, you can complain to the local Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Our local ICB is the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, who commission – buy in – health services for people across West Yorkshire, including Wakefield District.

The ICB will work with all the organisations involved to provide you with a coordinated response. 

Please note: If you have already complained to your NHS healthcare provider, the ICB cannot reinvestigate the same concerns. 

Telephone 01924 552150 Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4.30 pm, excluding bank holidays.

Email wyicb.pals@nhs.net

Or write to Patient Advice and Liaison Service, West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, White Rose House, West Parade, Wakefield WF1 1LT

Find out more about their processes here www.westyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/contact/comments-concerns-complaints.

If you have tried to resolve your complaint at the local level and this has failed, you can ask the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to look at your complaint.

This is the final stage for unresolved complaints. For more information, go to www.ombudsman.org.uk or telephone 0345 015 4033.

NHS complaints guidance including Easy Read

If you need help or would like to speak to someone, please get in touch.

We also have independent NHS Complaints Advocates who can support you through the process.

Find out more here NHS Complaints Advocacy.

Telephone 01924 787379, text 07885 913396, email enquiries@healthwatchwakefield.co.uk.