If you’d like to report any issues regarding our services or the care you’ve received, we’d be glad to hear from you.

We’ll do our best to resolve any problems you have and your feedback will help us to improve the lives of our patients, their families and carers.
 

First steps

It’s best to raise any concern you have as soon as possible. You can speak to any of our staff about it but it’s best to start with the people involved in your care.

If you’d prefer not to do that, you can contact one of our patient experience teams. You can find their contact details here.
 

How to make a formal complaint

If you're not able to resolve concerns using the methods above, you can write to us and we’ll investigate the matter.

Please note that in most cases we can only investigate complaints made within 12 months of:

  • the event happening
  • you becoming aware of the event happening


In your letter, please include:

  • your full name, address, email and phone number
  • the patient’s name (if you’re complaining on behalf of someone else)
  • the patient’s date of birth and if relevant, their hospital number
  • what the problem is or was
  • when and where it happened
  • if you have more than 1 issue please list and number your concerns
  • what you’d like to happen as a result of making your complaint
  • if complaining on someone’s behalf, their written consent of the complaint


If you’d like free, confidential help or advice to write your letter, you can contact any of our patient experience teams.

You can also get independent advice and support from:

Where to send your letter

If you’re complaining about something that has happened at Cumberland Infirmary or West Cumberland Hospital please email complaints@ncic.nhs.uk or write to:

The Patient Relations Manager
The Cumberland Infirmary
Newtown Road
Carlisle
Cumbria
CA2 7HY


If you’re complaining about something that has happened in one of our community hospitals, clinics or community-based services please email pet@ncic.nhs.uk or write to:

Chief Executive
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Voreda
Portland Place
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7QQ
 

Confidentiality and non-discrimination

Everyone in the NHS has a duty to protect confidentiality. However, information from your health records may have to be shared with clinical and managerial staff investigating your complaint.

All information relating to complaints are stored securely and separately from your health records.

Patients, carers and relatives will not be discriminated against as a result of expressing concerns or making a complaint.
 

What happens next?

We’ll let you know that we’ve received your complaint within 3 working days. We’ll then investigate your complaint as quickly as possible.

Although there are no official time limits, we try to resolve complaints within 30 days. If we think it’s going to take longer than this to investigate, we’ll let you know.

If you’re unhappy with our response to your complaint, you can ask the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to review your case.

You can do this by:

  • visiting their website and submitting an online complaint
  • visiting their website and downloading a complaint form
  • calling 03450 154033

The Ombudsman will only investigate your complaint after we’ve completed our own investigation and tried to resolve it. They are the last stage in the complaints process.