Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the complaints process for people who have experienced a grievance or poor care within the NHS so that it is timely and responsive to the complaint raised.

The regulations which govern the National Health Service complaint handling arrangements contain specific provisions on timelines and responsiveness. NHS organisations are required to acknowledge complaints made within three working days and offer the complainant a meeting to discuss how the complaint will be handled and the likely timescales. The regulations also require NHS organisations to investigate complaints efficiently and ensure the complainant is informed of progress.