Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
Patients, relatives or carers occasionally need to turn to someone for on-the-spot advice and support and the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is here to help. It aims to resolve concerns quickly and efficiently, provide information on NHS services and enable patients and the public to get involved in shaping local NHS services.
We are here to:
- Offer confidential advice and support to patients, their families and carers
- Listen to your concerns, suggestions or queries
- Help sort out problems quickly on your behalf
- Provide information on NHS services
PALS acts confidentially when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations to provide prompt solutions. It can also give you information about local and national support agencies and explain how the formal complaints system works.
- Phoning 01234 897211 (normal hours 9am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday).
A voicemail system operates at busy times and out of hours and we will endeavour to return your call by the next working day. - Emailing PALS@bedfordshire.nhs.uk
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Or writing to:
The PALS Service
NHS Bedfordshire
Gilbert Hitchcock House
21 Kimbolton Road
Bedford MK40 2AW
Comments, suggestions and compliments
We welcome feedback on any aspect of our health services to enable us to develop and improve our services. Please contact the PALS Service with any suggestions, comments and compliments. Comment cards are available at all our sites.
Complaints
You can make a complaint about any healthcare provided, or funded, by NHS Bedfordshire in writing or by email, telephone or by requesting a face to face discussion. Your complaint will be acknowledged within three working days and we will suggest an action plan and a timescale for its resolution. If you are unhappy with our suggestion you will be invited to discuss your preference. After that, we will investigate the issues that you have raised and then the Chief Executive will write, within the agreed timescale, to let you know the outcome and what action, if any, the Trust intends to take as a result.
You may address your complaint to:
The Chief Executive
NHS Bedfordshire
Gilbert Hitchcock House
21 Kimbolton Road
Bedford MK40 2AW
Alternatively you may complain by email to: complaints@bedfordshire.nhs.uk or contact our complaints department on 01234 897211.
If you need advice or information on how to make a formal complaint, or if you wish to discuss your concerns please contact our PALS team.What happens to information held about you? For information about your rights to to access information held about you under the Data Protection Act and our obligations to you click here.
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