Campaigners call for free medical complaints line to be introduced

Date: 30/12/2011

A campaign has been launched that could see an 0800 number introduced by the NHS in order to deal with anonymous complaints about health services.

The Leicester Mercury reports how members of the paper's Patients' Panel believe there should be a free telephone number individuals can call to voice concerns about local practices.

"A lot of people are afraid to speak out about services, especially by GPs.

"Others don't want to get involved the complaints procedure which can be very lengthy," Zuffar Haq, from the panel, stated.

He added a line similar to Crimestoppers should be introduced locally and, if successful, this could be adopted nationally.

Chief executive of Leicester's hospital's trust Malcolm Lowe-Lauri is set to discuss the proposal with members of the panel on January 10th.

The comments follow the recent announcement by the Department of Health that a new Whistleblowing Helpline will be effective for NHS staff working in the social care sector from January 1st.