Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
We are here to help with your enquiries, concerns and compliments.
You can contact PALS via email, telephone, completing a feedback form, through a video call or face to face meeting.
What can we do?
- Talk to senior staff on your behalf to try to resolve any concerns or issues.
- Tell you about the service we provide and about the NHS.
- Provide information and signpost you to other support organisations.
- Listen to your suggestions and comments and take action to improve our services.
- Hear from your positive experience and share compliments with those involved.
- Tell you about complaints advocacy services and the formal complaints process.
A member of the PALS team will listen and discuss with you the most appropriate way to take your enquiry, concern or feedback forward.
Contact PALS or leave us some feedback
At Royal Derby Hospital
Royal Derby Hospital
Uttoxeter Road
Derby
DE22 8NE
The office is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm (excluding Bank Holidays) and is located in the main entrance, opposite Costa Coffee.
At Queen's Hospital Burton
Queen's Hospital Burton
Belvedere Road
Burton on Trent
Staffordshire
DE13 0RB
The office is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm (excluding Bank Holidays) and is located opposite the Fracture Clinic on the ground floor.
Telephone: 01332 785 156
Text: 07799 337 500
Email: uhdb.contactpalsderby@nhs.net
Please leave a voicemail outside of opening hours.
Complete one of our feedback forms
When we receive your form, it will be reviewed by the PALS or Complaints team to consider the most appropriate way forward. You will be contacted to discuss and agree this.
- Raise an enquiry online (opens in new window) >
If you have a general query, such as how to access your health records, a query on parking, or a suggestion on how to improve our services.
- Raise a concern online (opens in new window) >
If you have issues regarding your current care, appointment issues, an inpatient admission, or your wait to be seen in our hospitals this is a more informal route and the issues raised are escalated to senior staff of the area the concerns relate to. A response will be provided to you usually by telephone or email. PALS timescales are shorter and we aim to provide a response to you within either 5 or 10 working days.
- Leave us a compliment online (opens in new window) >
If you would like to let us know of a positive experience during your care.
- Raise a complaint online (opens in new window) >
If you are unhappy with an aspect of care, treatment or service (for yourself or a relative/friend) that you feel requires a more detailed investigation you can choose to raise your concern as a formal complaint. A lead investigator will be appointed to fully investigate the issues raised and either a meeting or written reply is offered to provide you with a response. A formal complaint has either a 25 working day or 40 working day time scale dependant on the complexity of the concerns documented.
Information about advocacy and support
An advocate, independent of the NHS, can help you with your complaint by providing free support at any stage of the process by:
- Helping to complete a complaint form or letter
- Attending meetings with you
- Review any information you are given
Contact an advocate
If you require any independent assistance or support during the complaints process, you can contact One Advocacy Service on 01332 228748, or by emailing referrals@oneadvocacyderby.org.
Derbyshire area (not City)
If you require any independent assistance or support during the complaints process, you can contact Derbyshire Mind (Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Service) on 01332 623732 or email advocacy@derbyshiremind.org.uk.
Staffordshire area
If you require any independent assistance or support during the complaints process, you can contact Total Voice NHS Complaints Advocacy on 01785 336387 or email info@totalvoicestaffs.org.
Leicestershire area
If you require any independent assistance or support during the complaints process, you can contact POwHER advocacy service on 0300 456 2365, or write to PO Box 14043, Birmingham, B6 9BL or email yourvoiceyourchoice@pohwer.net.
If you live outside of these areas
Your local council or Healthwatch will be able to advise who your local advocacy provider is. Details of your local council may be found on the government website.
Externally produced information leaflets
- Download Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Service (Mind) [pdf] 819KB
- Download How AvMA can help when things go wrong in healthcare [pdf] 270KB
View our information leaflets
Tips on making a complaint in British Sign Language (BSL)
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman role in British Sign Language
This video was produced by Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Tips on making a complaint to the NHS in England
This video was produced by Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
FAQ's
Obtaining copies of medical records
Copies of medical records can be obtained by completing an application form – this is available to download by visiting our health records page >
If you have any questions or queries, please contact the Subject Access Team:
Subject Access Team
Queen's Hospital Burton
Medical Records Department
Belvedere Road
Burton on Trent
DE13 0RB
Telephone: 07384 914 182
Email: uhdb.subjectaccess@nhs.net
Why do we need patient consent?
Please be aware that the Trust has a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after a patient has passed away. If you are raising concerns about somebody else’s care and treatment, UHDB will need confirmation that the patient is aware and has consented to their details being shared with you.
Issues around confidentiality after a patient has passed away are more complex and the PALS team would be happy to advise and support you with any queries you may have about raising a concern or a complaint about their care.
Concerns about a GP, Community Pharmacies, Dentists or Opticians:
NHS England oversee concerns about GP surgeries, community pharmacies, dentists and opticians and can be contacted:
NHS England
PO Box 16738
Redditch
B97 9PT
Email: england.contactus@nhs.net
Telephone: 0300 311 22 33
If you have concerns about the Radbourne Unit / The Beeches
Although based at the Royal Derby Hospital, these are run by Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Trust. To provide feedback:
Telephone: 0800 027 2128 / 01332 623751
Email: dhcft.patientexperience@nhs.net
If you have concerns about an Emergency Ambulance Service
If your concern is about East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS):
Telephone: 0115 884 5000
Email: pals.office@emas.nhs.uk
If your concern is about West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS):
Telephone: 0300 303 0996
Email: patientexperience@wmas.nhs.uk
How to a make a complaint & contact details
For further information, please visit our complaints page >
How to make a Freedom of Information request to UHDB
Please contact:
Freedom of Information Manager
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Derby Hospital
Uttoxeter Road
Derby
DE22 3NE
Email: uhdb.foi@nhs.net
If you are seeking personal information (i.e. regarding a patient) please use the Subject Access Request form.
Enquiry about work experience / volunteering / international recruitment/ apprenticeships
For information about Enquiry about work experience / volunteering / international recruitment/ apprenticeships at UHDB, please visit our job opportunities page >
Enquiries about Patient Knows Best
Patient Knows Best is a portal which provides patients with online access to their clinical correspondence, appointment information and appropriate test results. Please visit Online Patient Portal page to access Patient Knows Best portal>
If you have any queries, please call 01332 783474
Information about overseas patients and Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity
If you would like to make a donation to the Trust, please contact the Charities Office.
Charity telephone: 01332 785731
If you have any enquiries about Overseas patients, please visit overseas patient page >