First Steps - Making a Complaint Locally

If you have a complaint about a doctor working in a public hospital (either a Health Service Executive (HSE) hospital or a voluntary hospital), you should first complain to the hospital where possible.

Most hospitals have a Complaints Officer who will take your complaint in person, over the phone or in writing. You can find out the contact details for the Complaints Officer through the hospital’s main phone number.

The HSE has a complaints procedure called Your Service Your Say. You can expect an update on your complaint within 30 days.

Health Service Executive (HSE) Review

If you are not happy with the recommendations made by the Complaints Officer, you can ask for a review from the HSE’s Director of Advocacy or go straight to the Office of the Ombudsman or Ombudsman for Children.

Office of the Ombudsman / Ombudsman for Children

If you are not happy with the response from the HSE, you can ask the Office of the Ombudsman to examine your complaint and how your complaint was handled.

If the complaint relates to a child, you should contact the Ombudsman for Children.

If you have a complaint about a doctor working in a private hospital, you should first complain to the hospital.

Most hospitals have a Complaints Officer who will take your complaint in person, over the phone or in writing. You can find out the contact details for the Complaints Officer through the hospital’s main phone number.

If you visit your family doctor (General Practitioner, or ‘GP’) and you have a medical card or a GP Visit Card, you are considered a public patient.

If you are unhappy with the service you received from a GP, you should first of all complain to the GP directly. You can do this in person, in writing or by telephone.

If you do not have a medical card or GP Visit Card, you are considered a private patient when you visit your family doctor (General Practitioner, or ‘GP’) or call a GP Out of Hours Service. This means that you must pay for the services provided.

Some GPs provide services only to private patients. The relationship between a private patient and a GP is essentially a contract – you enter into a contract with your GP to provide you with services and you pay for those services.

If you are unhappy with the service you received from a GP, you should first of all complain to the GP directly. You can do this in person, in writing or by telephone.