This information applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland
If you feel you have been poorly treated or misdiagnosed, you can complain about your GP. If you are not fit enough to do this, you can nominate someone else to do it for you. If you decide to make a complaint, it is best to do it as soon as possible as there are time limits within which you must act.
The first step is to go to your GP and ask for a copy of their complaints procedure - they should all have one. Follow the guidelines for complaining and return it to the appropriate person and wait for a reply.
If you are not satisfied with the response from your initial complaint, the matter can be put to your health authority or trust for a second independent review. They can arrange for conciliation with the GP or for a further investigation if they feel that your complaint deserves it. (In Wales, your community health council can help with making a complaint about your GP - they can advise and help with the forms.)
If you still feel that your complaint has not been dealt with in a satisfactory way, you can refer it on to the health service ombudsman. There are separate ombudsmen for England and Wales.
For more information about making a complaint about a doctor or seeking compensation in England, see NHS and local authority social services complaints. In Wales, see NHS complaints in Wales. In Northern Ireland, see HPSS complaints in Northern Ireland.
For more information about the health service ombudsman, see How to use an ombudsman in England, How to use an ombudsman in Wales, or How to use an ombudsman in Northern Ireland.
You can find more information about your rights as an NHS patient on Adviceguide.
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