Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the complaints procedures are for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs); how CCGs are held accountable; and if he will make a statement.

A complaint may be made by a patient or anyone affected by the actions of the National Health Service in respect of any function provided or commissioned by them. The procedure for handling complaints about NHS bodies, including clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) is covered by the National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009. CCGs are accountable to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care through NHS England. A complaint may be made directly to the CCG or to NHS England but not to both.

If a complainant is unhappy with any aspect of the response or handling of their complaint they have the right to refer it to the Parliamentary and Health Service Commissioner (also known as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman), who in his role as Health Service Commissioner for England, investigates complaints about the NHS not resolved at local level. The Ombudsman also holds NHS organisations to account on how they manage complaints.