1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Patient Rights (Complaints Procedure and Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and come into force on 1st April 2012.
(2) In these Regulations—
“the 2005 Directions” means the Directions to Health Boards, Special Health Boards and the Agency on Complaints Procedure, made on 31st March 2005 and brought into force on 1st April 2005;
“the Act” means the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011;
“arrangements” means, unless the context otherwise requires, arrangements that are required by virtue of section 15 of the Act;
“relevant complaints procedure” means—
any complaints procedure required prior to 1st April 2012 by any of the following provisions—
part 6 of Schedule 5 to the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2004(1);
part 6 of Schedule 1 to the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Regulations 2004(2);
paragraph 11 of Schedule 1 to the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2006(3);
paragraph 12 of Schedule 1 to the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009(4);
paragraph 36 of Schedule 1 to the National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2010(5);
“responsible body” means a relevant NHS body and a service provider;
“service provider” means any person who provides health services for the purpose of the health service under a contract, agreement or arrangements made under or by virtue of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978;
“writing” includes any communication sent by electronic means if it is received in a form which is legible and capable of being used for subsequent reference.
2. Each responsible body must have arrangements in place for the matters described in section 15(3) of the Act.
3.—(1) Each responsible body must appoint a feedback and complaints officer to manage the arrangements.
(2) The functions of the feedback and complaints officer may be performed personally or by a person authorised by the relevant responsible body to act on the feedback and complaints officer’s behalf.
(3) Each relevant NHS body must appoint a feedback and complaints manager, to ensure compliance with the arrangements, and in particular to ensure that the feedback, comments, concerns or complaints received are monitored with a view to improving the performance of functions.
(4) The functions of the feedback and complaints manager must be performed by the person who acts as the chief executive of the relevant NHS body, or by an appropriately senior person authorised by the relevant NHS body to act on the chief executive’s behalf.
4. Any person who is, or is likely to be affected by an act or omission of a responsible body is specified for the purposes of section 15(3)(a)(ii) of the Act.
5.—(1) Regulations 6 and 7 apply where a complaint is raised orally or in writing within six months from the date on which the subject matter of the complaint comes to the complainant’s notice, provided that is no later than twelve months after the date on which the subject matter of the complaint occurred.
(2) The periods specified in paragraph (1) may be extended if the feedback and complaints officer (appointed under regulation 3(1)) considers it would be reasonable in the circumstances.
6.—(1) In dealing with a complaint other than one specified in regulation 7(2), the responsible body must—
(a)make a written record of the complaint;
(b)send the complainant a written acknowledgement of the complaint within 3 working days of the date on which the complaint is received, or as soon as reasonably practicable;
(c)send the complainant a report of the investigation into the complaint within 20 working days of the date on which the complaint is received, or as soon as reasonably practicable.
(2) Where a complaint is resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction within 3 working days of the date on which the complaint is received, paragraph (1)(b) and (c) does not apply.
7.—(1) In dealing with a complaint specified in regulation 7(2), the responsible body must as soon as reasonably practicable notify the complainant in writing—
(a)that such a complaint will not be investigated under the arrangements; and
(b)of the procedures for raising such a complaint.
(2) The following complaints are specified—
(a)a complaint raised by a relevant NHS body about the exercise of another relevant NHS body’s functions;
(b)a complaint raised by a service provider about any matter connected with the contract or arrangements under which that service provider provides health services;
(c)a complaint raised by an employee of a responsible body about any matter relating to that employee’s contract of employment;
(d)a complaint which is being or has been investigated by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman;
(e)a complaint arising out of an alleged failure to comply with a request for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002(6);
(f)a complaint about which the complainant has stated in writing that the complainant intends to take legal proceedings;
(g)a complaint about which a responsible body is taking or proposing to take disciplinary proceedings against the person who is the subject of the complaint; and
(h)a complaint, the subject matter of which has previously been investigated under—
(i)the arrangements;
(ii)the 2005 Directions, in relation to a complaint raised under those Directions prior to 1st April 2012; or
(iii)a relevant complaints procedure, in relation to a complaint raised under such a procedure prior to 1st April 2012.
(3) Where a complaint specified in paragraph (2) is connected with another complaint which is not so specified, the other complaint is to be dealt with in accordance with regulation 6(1).
8. Any communication which is required by these Regulations to be made to a complainant may be sent to the complainant electronically where the complainant—
(a)has consented to this in writing; and
(b)has not withdrawn such consent in writing.
9.—(1) Where a complaint has been raised prior to 1st April 2012 it must be handled or continue to be handled in accordance with any former complaints legislation.
(2) Where, following 1st April 2012, a complainant requests a review of a complaint which was dealt with before that date, it must be handled in accordance with former complaints legislation.
(3) In this regulation, “former complaints legislation” means the Hospital Complaints Procedure Act 1985(7), the 2005 Directions, as in force prior to 1st April 2012, and a relevant complaints procedure.
(4) The Schedule (consequential provisions) has effect.
NICOLA STURGEON
A member of the Scottish Executive
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
8th February 2012