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Formal NHS Complaint Letter Template
How to make a formal written complaint about NHS care or treatment received — what to include, your legal rights, and a free letter generator.
← All Letter Templates · NHS Complaints · Last updated 18 August 2026
This is free rights guidance, not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, see our About page or contact Citizens Advice.
If you need to make a formal written complaint about NHS care or treatment received, a written letter is the recommended first step — it creates a clear record and shows you're pursuing the matter formally. Below is what a strong formal nhs complaint letter should include, plus a free tool to generate yours.
What this letter needs to cover
- Identify the patient and the treatment or service complained about with dates
- Describe what went wrong and the impact
- State the outcome sought such as apology, explanation, changes to prevent recurrence or financial remedy
- Reference the NHS complaints regulations being the Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints England Regulations 2009
- Give 3 months notice and request a response within 40 working days
See our full letter template library for related templates, or use our free checkers for guidance specific to your situation.
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