Who can I complain to?

Question

I had a run in with a receptionist at my local NHS dentist and I want to complain but I don't want to send a letter to the actual dentist because I don't think they will deal with it. Is there a place I can write to? I know she is not a nurse, just a receptionist.

Answer 1

Write a letter to the practice owner or practice manager, but also send a copy of the letter to your local PCT. Or if you don't think writting to the practice will get dealt with ask for a meeting with whoever is in charge.Dental receptionists can be so rude. Good luck.

Answer 2

Answers like the first one posted by Vivax really annoy me. You've asked people to suggest WHO you should complain to, not to judge the situation you were in with this receptionist. I think it was particularly out of order for him to have formed an opinion on the matter when you haven't even given any details about what actually happened - and why should you?

Receptionists are hired and paid to be polite and welcoming to patients and also for their organisational skills. If this receptionist was either rude, disorganised or didn't deal with you properly for some other reason, you have every right to complain. Visiting the dentist is never particularly pleasant for anyone and if the receptionist isn't doing the job properly, it makes the experience even worse. As the first face that is seen as a patient walks through the door, they should appreciate that both easing and adding to the patient's anxiety is completely in their hands and I have been on the receiving end of a fair few who frankly shouldn't be working in surgeries and clinics with the attitudes they have.

You're right not to complain directly to the dentist because although they might be a bit disgruntled that their receptionist has upset a patient, they are likely to iron things over nice and smoothly in the end because they still have to work with him or her. For fair discipline, write to your Primary Care Trust and as someone else said, send a copy of the letter to the dentist (only if you want to) because that way you are telling the dentist what he or she has done, yet you are leaving it to a higher body to deal with the actual complaint. I wish you the best of luck with that and hope justice is done in the end.

Answer 3

Write a letter to the practice owner or practice manager, but also send a copy of the letter to your local PCT. Sometimes tho the dentist will obviously agree with the receptionist so jus send them a copy of the letter you write to the PCT

Answer 4

I would write to the practice in question. If she is just a receptionist, they are likely not to want her upsetting the clientelle.

If you want to blow the whole practice out of the water, this website may help:

http://www.nhs.uk/england/aboutTheNHS/complainCompliment.cmsx

But I suggest you try contacting the actual dentist first, as it is less of a complaint about treatment, more about the staff.

Answer 5

if it was an NHS dentist, then perhaps the local PCT - your primary care trust....if you do i'd also send a copy to the dentist stating the case....

Answer 6

sorry. Instead of always complaining about others, why dont you think back and see did you do any mistake?
Or start knocking the doors of Crown Court in normal british style

Answer 7

have a look at this http://www.nhs.uk/England/Dentists/DentalComplaints.cmsx

Answer 8

me