Patient Safety at the NHS
Author: Robert Palmer
The NHS takes patient safety extremely seriously, and will immediately look into any cases whereby the patient thinks their safety, or their rights have been compromised. Therefore, if, for instance, you believe an NHS practitioner, or social services employee has been guilty of professional misconduct, you can complain to their professional or regulatory body. There is indeed different healthcare regulators for different arms of the NHS, and complaints should be aimed at the specific regulator in order to resolve the issues as quickly as possible. So, the regulator for doctors in England is the General Medical Council.
For nurses and midwives, the regulator is the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and for Dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists, the regulator who will deal with complaints is the General Dental Council. For complaints concerned with dispending opticians and optometrists, the General Optical Council will resolve help to resolve the issue, and for problems with Pharmacists, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is the regulator. Arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists and podiatrists, clinical scientists, dietitians, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists, prosthetists and orthotists, radiographers, speech and language therapists all share the same regulatory body, which is the Health Professions Council. For Osteopaths, see the General Osteopathic Council, and for Chiropractors, the General Chiropractic Council will deal with all complaints and queries.
The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) oversees the work of the health professions regulators. It carries out an annual performance review with each regulator, and looks at whether the regulator operates to agreed standards.
--
Any individuals who want to lodge NHS complaints should firstly find the regulator that best suites the complaint, and then contact them directly - a quick Internet search should reveal all required contact details. For help and advice choosing the correct regulator speak to The Medical Protection Society.
For nurses and midwives, the regulator is the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and for Dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists, the regulator who will deal with complaints is the General Dental Council. For complaints concerned with dispending opticians and optometrists, the General Optical Council will resolve help to resolve the issue, and for problems with Pharmacists, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is the regulator. Arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists and podiatrists, clinical scientists, dietitians, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists, prosthetists and orthotists, radiographers, speech and language therapists all share the same regulatory body, which is the Health Professions Council. For Osteopaths, see the General Osteopathic Council, and for Chiropractors, the General Chiropractic Council will deal with all complaints and queries.
The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) oversees the work of the health professions regulators. It carries out an annual performance review with each regulator, and looks at whether the regulator operates to agreed standards.
--
Any individuals who want to lodge NHS complaints should firstly find the regulator that best suites the complaint, and then contact them directly - a quick Internet search should reveal all required contact details. For help and advice choosing the correct regulator speak to The Medical Protection Society.
Article Source: http://www.a1articles.com/article_1522457_23.html