Rulebook · Way to challenge
Complaint to the NHS
Using the NHS complaints procedure about health services, including health provision in section G of an EHC plan not being arranged. You can complain to the service that gives the care, or to the body that pays for it, usually the integrated care board. If you are still unhappy, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman can look at it.
Who can use it: The patient, or someone acting for them, such as a parent. Time limit: Normally within 12 months of the event or, if later, of when the person complaining found out about it. A later complaint can be accepted if there is a good reason and it can still be investigated fairly.
- Alongside other ways
- Yes. It can run alongside health mediation, an appeal about other parts of the plan, and complaints to the council.
- Cost
- Free.
What it can do
- The NHS body can apologise, explain, put things right, or arrange the health provision in the plan.
What it cannot do
- It cannot change the education parts of the plan or council decisions.
- It does not stop or extend the time limit for an appeal.
- Type of rule
- Law (Act or Regulations)This is the law, set by an Act of Parliament or by Regulations.
- Rule id
route.complaint_nhs- Rules version
- england-2026.10
- Law as at
- 30 September 2026
Sources
- Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009, reg 12Law (Act or Regulations)
- Children and Families Act 2014, s 42(3)Law (Act or Regulations)
Related
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