Making a complaint
The Royal College of Psychiatrists strives to provide an excellent service to everyone who comes into contact with our Members and Associates or our staff.
If something goes wrong, our aim is to ensure that any complaints are addressed quickly and fairly. Sometimes it may be easiest and quickest to try to sort a matter out informally – but if you do wish to make a formal complaint it is important to understand what the College is able to deal with and what lies outside its remit.
The College complaints policy applies to College members or Associates in relation to work carried out on behalf of the College, while acting as a representative of the College or in some other College capacity.
We cannot deal with the following issues as they are outside our remit:
If you have a concern or complaint about an individual psychiatrist and his or her right or competence to practise you should contact the General Medical Council (GMC).
Complaints about treatment received within the NHS are dealt with firstly by the hospital or other organisation concerned, through the legal system or (in England) by the Health Service Ombudsman.
Complaints about organisations in the independent sector are dealt with by these organisations, or through the legal system.
Complaints relating to the Mental Health Act in England (the use of powers and duties in the Act only) can be looked at by the Care Quality Commission. Equivalent complaints in Wales are dealt with by the Health Inspectorate, in Scotland by the Mental Welfare Commission and in Northern Ireland by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.
The College Complaints policy applies to College Members or Associates in relation to work carried out on behalf of the College, while acting as a representative of the College or in some other College capacity.
If your complaint relates to the MRCPsych examinations, please contact the Head of Examinations.
If your complaint is about a member of staff, please contact the Head of Human Resources. There is a separate policy covering this.
If your complaint is about a patient, carer or lay representative of the College within their College role, please contact the Complaints Manager. There is a separate complaints policy covering this.
If you wish to pursue a complaint about a College Member, Associate, or Pre-Membership Psychiatric Trainee, in relation to their work for, or role in, the College then please follow the guidelines in the Disciplinary and Complaints policy. We have also produced a document which lays out the process in a simplified way. The policies set out the information which you must include when you write to us.
Your complaint should be made in writing, addressed to the Complaints Manager at The Royal College of Psychiatrists UK, and either sent via email to governance@rcpsych.ac.uk, or by post to:
Complaints Manager
The Royal College of Psychiatrists
21 Prescot Street
London E1 8BB