If we are unable to offer you a satisfactory response to your concerns informally, you can make a formal complaint either by emailing complaints@royalberkshire.nhs.uk or by writing to the Complaints Team at the address below:
Complaints Team
Level 2, Main Entrance
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Craven Road
Reading
RG1 5AN
What can I expect from the formal complaints process?
You should make your complaint within 12 months from when the issue occurred or from when you have become aware that an issue occurred. This enables us to thoroughly investigate your complaint.
Please give as much information as you can, including your name, address and hospital number.
You can ask a friend or relative to raise a complaint on your behalf. If you do, we will ask you to sign a consent form, giving us permission to disclose your personal information to this person.
We will acknowledge your complaint either by email, telephone or in writing within 3 working days, informing you of the next steps.
We will also keep you informed of progress, and if the investigation is going to take longer than thought we will explain to you the reason why.
Once the investigation is complete, we will provide you with a written response explaining the outcome and conclusions of the investigation or we will arrange a meeting if you prefer.
However, the formal complaints procedure cannot look at issues relating to discipline (for example whether a member of staff should be dismissed), strike a health professional off the register / suspend their registration or look at complaints about treatment provided privately unless it was paid for by the NHS.
View Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust's Complaints Policy [link to policy].