If you're concerned about a health and care professional
If you are unhappy with the care or treatment you have received, you can make a complaint to your health and care professional or the organisation they work for.
If possible speak to them first to see if you can settle the problem. Most issues can be dealt with in this way.
The organisations listed below may be able to support you with your concern.
What can the HCPC do?
Most professionals on our Register practise safely and meet our standards. On the rare occasions that something goes wrong, anyone can raise a concern with us.
We can act if there are serious concerns about a health and care professional’s practice or behaviour. We do this through our ‘fitness to practise’ process. If we find that an individual has not met our standards, we may take action such as telling a professional to practise in a certain way or to carry out further training.
In the most serious cases, we can stop a professional from practising.
If your concern relates to harassment or sexual misconduct
If you have experienced harassment or sexual misconduct from a HCPC registrant, you are able to speak to us about this. Anyone can speak to us and raise a concern.
We know that raising a concern can be very difficult. You may not feel ready or able to do this right away. Although our staff are not trained to provide legal or counselling support, they can provide guidance on how to raise concerns and who might be able to provide you with support and guidance.
We provide a lay-advocacy service, POhWER helps people who due to a health condition, disability or distressing life event need support to go through what can be a complex regulatory process.
If you are not ready to speak to us, you could contact another organisation that has specific expertise in supporting people who have experienced or are experiencing sexual harassment, violence or abuse.
Advice helplines if you're concerned about harassment or sexual misconduct
- Rights of Women Sexual harassment at work advice helpline provides free and confidential legal advice to women and girls.
- SurvivorsUK operate a free, confidential national online helpline for men and boys.
- GALOP offer a free, confidential and independent helpline and support service for all LGBT+ people who have experienced sexual assault, violence or abuse.
- NHS advice on help after rape and assault provides advice on what to do, the services that can help and how to support people.
- Rape Crisis England and Wales, Rape Crisis Northern Ireland and Rape Crisis Scotland provide free, confidential emotional support, information and signposting by phone or email.
- Victim Support England and Wales, Victim Support Scotland and Victim Support Northern Ireland, provide free and confidential specialist help.
- Independent sexual violence advisors (ISVAs) - You can access ISVAs through sexual assault referral centres (SARCs). SARCs have specially trained doctors, nurses and support workers on hand 24 hours a day, offering medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused.
The following organisations may be useful for providing information if you need to raise a concern
Action Against Medical Accidents
A charity for patient safety and justice which provides free and confidential advice following a medical accident. They cover both NHS and private healthcare complaint procedures and can advise on referrals to regulatory bodies or legal action.
Phone: 0845 123 2352
Website: www.avma.org.uk
Board of Community Health Council in Wales
This organisation can provide you with free, confidential help if you have a problem or complaint with NHS services in Wales.
Phone: 02920 235 558
Website: www.wales.nhs.uk/
Citizens Advice
This service helps people deal with legal, money or other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice.
Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
NHS Complaints Advocacy in England
A free, independent and confidential service that can help in making complaints about the NHS in England. They can also direct you to your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) who can give you confidential advice and support on health related matters.
Phone: 0300 330 5454
Website: //nhscomplaintsadvocacy.org
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
This organisation carries out independent investigations into complaints made about UK government departments and their agencies, and the NHS in England.
Phone: 0345 015 4033
Website: www.ombudsman.org.uk
Patient and Client Council in Northern Ireland
This organisation can help you make a complaint about health and social-care services in Northern Ireland.
Phone: 0800 917 0222
Website: www.patientclientcouncil.hscni.net
Patient Advice and Support Service in Scotland
This service provides free, confidential information, advice and support for anyone wanting to give feedback, make comments, raise concerns or make a complaint about treatment and care provided by the NHS in Scotland.
Website: www.patientadvicescotland.org.uk
The Local Government Ombudsman
This is a free and independent service that can investigate complaints about councils and other organisations providing local services.
Phone: 0300 061 0614
Website: www.lgo.org.uk