Our aim is to react to complaints in the way in which we would want our complaint about a service to be handled. We learn from every mistake that we make and we respond to customers’ concerns in a caring and sensitive way.

1. The person responsible for dealing with any complaint about the service which we provide is Sophia Bow.

2. If a patient complains on the telephone or at the reception desk, we will listen to their complaint and offer to refer him or her to the Complaints Manager. The member of staff will take brief details of the complaint and pass them on to the Complaints Manager. If necessary we may ask you to put your complaint in writing.

3. If the patient complains in writing the letter or email will be passed on to the Complaints Manager.

4. If a complaint is about any aspect of clinical care or associated charges it will be referred to the treating dentist, unless the patient does not want this to happen.

5. We will acknowledge the patient’s complaint in writing normally within 3 working days.

6. We will seek to investigate the complaint within 15 working days of receipt to give an explanation of the circumstances which led to the complaint. If we are unable to investigate the complaint within 15 working days we will notify the patient, giving reasons for the delay and a likely period within which the investigation will be completed.

7. When we have completed our investigation, we will provide the patient with a full written report. The report will include an explanation of how the complaint has been considered, the conclusions reached in respect of each specific part of the complaint, details of any necessary remedial action and whether the practice is satisfied with any action it has already taken or will be taking as a result of the complaint. If the complaint is made solely against a clinician who is no longer part of our organisation, then the clinician concerned will normally handle the complaint once they have been informed by the Complaints Manager.

8. Proper and comprehensive records are kept of any complaint received.

9. If patients are not satisfied with the result of our procedure then a complaint may be made to:

The Dental Complaints Service, The Lansdowne Building, 2 Lansdowne Road, Croydon, Greater London CR9 2ER (Telephone: 08456 120 540) for complaints about private treatment

The General Dental Council, 37 Wimpole Street, London, W1M 8DQ (Telephone: 0845 222 4141), the dentists’ regulatory body for complaints about professional misconduct.·

NHS dental Sevices – the complaints manager, NHS England – NHS Commissioning Board, P O Box 16738, B97 9PT (email: nhscommissioningboard@hscic.gov.uk, Tel 03003112233).