The Health Information and Quality Authority supports the launch of Healthcomplaints, a public service initiative to help members of the public understand where and how to complain about health and social care services.

Healthcomplaints is a toolkit which provides information and support about how and where to make complaints on services in health or social care. It consists of a guide for the public; a leaflet, a poster, a staff training guide and the website – www.healthcomplaints.ie. This is the first time an initiative like this has been launched in Ireland.

Healthcomplaints is a collaboration between regulators of services (the Health Information and Quality Authority, the Mental Health Commission); professional regulators (the Medical Council, An Bord Altranais, Corú, PHECC); complaints handling bodies (the Office of the Ombudsman and Ombudsman for Children); health and social care providers (Health Service Executive); and service user representatives (the Irish Patients’ Association). It brings together 17 regulatory bodies and service providers.

The initiative was launched at a conference in Dublin Castle and the speakers included Professor Jane Grimson, Director of Health Information and Deputy CEO, HIQA; Cathal Magee, CEO of the HSE; Emily O’Reilly, Ombudsman; Caroline Spillance, CEO, Medical Council; Dr Maura Pidgeon, CEO, An Bord Altranais; Stephen McMahon, Irish Patients’ Association and Mrs Loretta Evans.

Mrs Evans, mother of Colin Evans, spoke about the tragic loss of Colin following a series of failures at a major teaching hospital, and her personal experience of dealing with the health service.

“Making our complaint about Colin’s care helped us as a family to move on. We gained satisfaction from knowing that our actions will hopefully improve the lot of others. Making a complaint can make a difference but it is not easy. People need information and support and this initiative will certainly help provide some of this,” she said.

A nationwide information campaign has been rolled-out through hospitals, nursing homes, GP surgeries, advocacy groups and through all the agencies and organisations involved in providing health and social care.  

All the materials and more information can be downloaded from www.healthcomplaints.ie.

Further Information: 

Sinead Whooley, Communications Manager, Health Information and Quality Authority
Tel: 01 814 7488/ 087 922 1941 Email: swhooley@hiqa.ie