complaints
POLICY

At Whitefield Dental, we are committed to providing the highest standard of care to all our patients. However, we understand that there may be occasions when you are not entirely satisfied with our services. We take all complaints seriously and are committed to resolving them in a professional, fair, and timely manner. This complaints policy outlines our approach in accordance with the guidelines set by the General Dental Council (GDC) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

How to Make a Complaint

If you have a complaint, please feel free to let us know in the following ways:

- In person: Speak to a member of our reception team or your dentist.

- By phone: Call us on [insert clinic phone number] to discuss your concerns.

- In writing: Address your letter to the Practice Manager at [insert clinic address].

- By email: Email us at manager@whitefielddentalpractice.co.uk

Please provide as much detail as possible so we can fully understand and address your concerns.

What Happens Next?

- Acknowledgement: We will acknowledge your complaint within 3 working days of receipt, either verbally or in writing.

- Investigation: Your complaint will be thoroughly investigated by the Practice Manager or the Clinical Director, depending on the nature of the complaint. We may contact you for further information or clarification.

- Response: We aim to provide a full written response within 10 working days. If for any reason there is a delay in this process, we will inform you and provide an updated timeline.

Resolution

We will endeavour to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction. If you are not happy with the outcome, we will offer options for further discussion or review. We aim to ensure that all concerns are addressed in a fair and transparent manner.

Escalating a Complaint

If you feel your complaint has not been resolved satisfactorily, you can refer it to external bodies:

- General Dental Council (GDC): The GDC regulates dental professionals in the UK. You can contact them for advice or to escalate a complaint about a dental professional via their website: [www.gdc-uk.org](https://www.gdc-uk.org)

- Care Quality Commission (CQC): The CQC monitors and inspects healthcare services. If you feel your care has not met the required standards, you can contact them at [www.cqc.org.uk] (https://www.cqc.org.uk) or call 03000 616161.

We value your feedback as it helps us to continually improve our services. Thank you for your time, and we appreciate your patience as we work to resolve any concerns.

Whitefield Dental Team