Website of the Department of Health

Current legislation

The NHS complaints regulations have been amended following the White Paper commitment to develop a single comprehensive complaints procedure across health and social care by 2009. The amendments are intended to make the system more responsive and give better links with the arrangements for responding to social care complaints.

We have discussed the changes with the key stakeholders and have taken account of comments received from complainants, complaints managers and others about the current system. We hope to publish the accompanying guidance very shortly. Any complaints raised before 1 September 2006 will be dealt with under the The National Health Service (Complaints) Regulations 2004, which came into force on 30 July 2004.

The NHS (Complaints) Amendment Regulations 2006 will need to be read in conjunction with the NHS (Complaints) Regulations 2004.

• The National Health Service (Complaints) Amendment Regulations 2006 (opens new window)
• The National Health Service (Complaints) Regulations 2004 (opens new window)