Giving Feedback

Listening … Acting… Improving

Our approach to complaints is simple: where there has been cause for complaint, it’s important we acknowledge this, put things right quickly where possible and ensure we learn and improve from the feedback received.  

We will therefore investigate your concerns with those who are directly concerned with the provision of your care, and respond as quickly as possible.

What to do if, for any reason, you wish to make a complaint about your care or treatment

In the first instance, if you are unhappy with any aspect of your care, however small, please speak to any member of staff and we will endeavour to put things right straightaway.

If this cannot be done, or you remain dissatisfied, the Clinic Manager will be happy to speak or meet with you to resolve your concerns. Any member of staff can make contact with them or, in their absence, an alternative member of the Senior Management Team.

If you wish to express your concern or complaint in writing, please contact:

Clinic Manager
Nova Healthcare
Level 4, Bexley Wing
Leeds Cancer Centre
Beckett Street
Leeds LS9 7TF

Please note that complaints should normally be made as soon as possible and within six months of the date of the event complained about.  The time limit may sometimes be extended (so long as it is still possible to investigate the complaint).  An extension may be possible, such as in situations where it would have been difficult for you to have complained sooner.

What happens when I’ve made a complaint?

Your letter will be acknowledged in writing within three working days of receipt and an investigation will begin into your complaint.  If you submit a complaint via email we will treat your complaint in the same way as we would a written complaint.

All complaints are taken seriously and are handled openly and honestly in a bid to be fair to all concerned and to conclude matters to the satisfaction of all parties as soon as possible.

You will receive our written response within 20 working days.  If our investigations should take longer, we will keep you informed.  We always try to learn from a complaint and, if appropriate, will adjust our working practices to avoid similar complaints arising.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may take this up with the Clinic Manager, who will either try further to explain our response or, in some circumstances, and with your agreement, will arrange an appointment for you to meet with those involved in your care in an attempt to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

It is always our intention to resolve matters amicably but, if you are still not satisfied, then you may write to the Chief Executive of Aspen Healthcare, the company that manages Nova Healthcare.  Should you wish to escalate your complaint in this way, you must do so in writing, within six months of the final response to your complaint from Nova Healthcare.

If you remain dissatisfied having exhausted the company’s local complaints procedure you may request an independent external review. The procedure is for you to write to the ISCAS Secretariat to request a stage three investigation at:

Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service
70 Fleet Street
London EC4Y 1EU
Tel: 020 7536 6091
Email: info@iscas.org.uk
Web: www.iscas.org.uk

This must be done within six months of receipt of the letter from the Chief Executive.  
You can read and download the ISCAS Code of Practice here.

The External Adjudication Secretariat will then communicate with you to outline the procedure that they will follow in the investigation of your complaint.

Healthcare paid for by the NHS
If the NHS has funded your care at Nova Healthcare, the NHS is responsible for the quality of the care provided.  So, if you are not happy about the care and treatment you have received, you may make a complaint to either Nova Healthcare as outlined above, or the NHS Commissioning Board, or local Clinical Commissioning Group (whichever body commissioned your care).  We will work together to resolve your complaint. We can provide the relevant address on request.

Once you have exhausted Nova Healthcare’s local process and you continue to remain dissatisfied with how your concern/complaint has been handled, you are entitled to raise your concerns with the Health Service Ombudsman who can be contacted in the following ways:

• Visiting www.ombudsman.org.uk
• Telephoning the complaints helpline on 03450 154033 (Monday to Friday 8-30am to 5-30pm)
• Emailing phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk
• Faxing 03000 614000
• Writing to: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP

Nova Healthcare is also regulated by the Care Quality Commission, which monitors the unit’s compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.  The Commission can be contacted via their website at www.cqc.org.uk or at:

Care Quality Commission
National Customer Service Centre
Citygate
Gallowgate
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 4PA

Finally, should you have any questions or comments in relation to how your concern/complaint is dealt with, then please do not hesitate to contact the Clinic Manager on 0113 206 7503.