Useful contacts

The Rethink Advice and Information Service

The RAIS produces a number of fact sheets on a range of different issues that affect people with mental illness. They are also able to give confidential, impartial, practical advice on all aspects of mental illness.  They can be contacted at:

Tel: 0300 5000 927 or 020 7840 3188, Monday to Friday 10am – 2pm

Email: advice@rethink.org    www.rethink.org

The Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS)

The Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) is an independent service which can help you make a formal complaint about an NHS service. You can contact your local ICAS office direct, or through NHS managers at hospitals and GP practices, NHS Direct or the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS- see below).

Contact numbers for local ICAS offices are:

• London: 0845 120 3784
• South East: 0845 600 8616
• Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire: 0845 456 1082
• Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk: 0845 456 1084
• Essex: 0845 456 1083
• South West: 0845 120 3782 
• East Midlands: 0845 650 0088

For the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humberside and the West Midlands, please call 0808 802 3000 and ask to be put through to the relevant region.

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS): 

PALS can give general advice on complaints relating to the NHS. They may also be able to help you resolve a less serious complaint.

Contact details for PALS should be available at all local NHS services.

Citizens Advice

You can also get help to make a complaint from your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

You can find your local CAB through the link to the following directory: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/cabdir.ihtml  

Care Quality Commision (CQC)

You can make a complaint about the way the Mental Health Act has been used or the way a person with a responsibility under the Mental Health Act has carried out their duties to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Care Quality Commission
Maid Marian House
56 Hounds Gate
Nottingham
NG1 6BG

Tel. 0115 943 7100