Provide information on health and support services. A patient support officer will listen to you and then give you suggestions about how you may resolve your problem. Patient support officers do not investigate complaints, do not give direct health care or offer an opinion on the care that you have received. If you are unwell you should consult your doctor, health provider or local hospital. The PSO has been set up with a belief that many problems, upsets and concerns can be resolved locally and quickly by identifying the problem and taking action to resolve it.
Prompt action can stop problems escalating.
After listening to your concerns the patient support officer will discuss the options available to you and offer further assistance as required. If the patient support officer can not assist they will do their best to identify others who can. The service is free and confidential. In most cases the patient support officer will be able to provide you with assistance over the telephone. The Commission produces a range of brochures, which may be obtained by ringing the Health Care Complaints Commission.