Get Answers
Can family members raise patient safety worries?
Yes. In the UK, family members and friends can and should speak up if they are worried that a patient is unsafe or not receiving the right care. Hospital staff are expected to listen to concerns from relatives and carers, especially if the patient is too unwell, confused, or unable to speak for themselves.
You do not need formal authority to raise a concern. If something feels wrong, such as a patient deteriorating, not being given medication, or appearing neglected, it is appropriate to report it straight away. Acting early can help prevent harm.
Where to report concerns in a hospital
The quickest step is usually to speak to the nurse in charge of the ward. If the issue is urgent, ask to speak to the senior nurse on duty or the doctor looking after the patient. Make it clear that you are raising a patient safety concern, not just a routine complaint.
If you are not satisfied with the response, contact the hospital’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service, often called PALS. PALS can help resolve concerns, explain the next steps, and pass urgent issues to the right clinical team. You can also ask for the ward manager or matron.
What kind of concerns can be reported?
Family members can report a wide range of safety worries. These may include falls risk, missed medicines, changes in breathing or consciousness, poor hygiene, pressure sore concerns, or a lack of response from staff. You can also report concerns about communication, discharge planning, or whether the patient is being treated with dignity.
If the patient has dementia, learning disabilities, communication difficulties, or is simply too unwell to advocate for themselves, your input is especially valuable. Hospitals should take relatives and carers seriously when they are sharing important information about the patient’s normal condition and current changes.
What to do if the problem seems urgent
If the patient may be in immediate danger, say so clearly and ask for urgent clinical review. Use plain language such as, “I am worried this is a patient safety emergency.” If staff do not respond, escalate to the ward manager or call for help through the hospital switchboard.
In a serious emergency, do not wait for a formal complaint process. If the patient is collapsing, having trouble breathing, or becoming suddenly much worse, tell staff immediately or call 999 if necessary. Time matters in life-threatening situations.
How to make your concern clearer
Keep notes of what you have seen, including times, dates, names, and what was said. Be specific about the risk and what has changed. This makes it easier for staff to investigate and act quickly.
It can help to state what outcome you want, such as a medical review, a medication check, or an explanation of the care plan. If needed, ask for an interpreter or support person. You are helping the hospital by speaking up early and clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reporting patient safety concerns on behalf of a patient in hospital means raising an issue you believe could harm the patient, such as a medication error, fall risk, infection concern, delayed treatment, or communication problem, so the hospital can assess and respond quickly.
Family members, carers, advocates, and other authorized representatives can usually report patient safety concerns on behalf of a patient in hospital, especially if the patient is unable or uncomfortable doing so themselves.
Someone should report concerns as soon as they notice a possible safety issue, because early reporting can prevent harm and help staff address the problem before it gets worse.
Someone can report concerns by speaking to the bedside nurse, charge nurse, doctor, ward manager, patient liaison service, or hospital complaints team, and by using any hospital safety reporting hotline or form if available.
Useful information includes the patient's name and ward, what happened or what seems unsafe, when it happened, who is involved if known, and any immediate risks or symptoms you observed.
You can report medication mistakes, missed care, hygiene or infection control problems, confusion about treatment, unsafe equipment, falls or near-misses, discharge concerns, and any situation that may put the patient at risk.
Some hospitals allow anonymous reporting, but policies vary. Even if a report is anonymous, the hospital may still need enough detail to investigate the concern effectively.
Usually, the patient should be informed when appropriate, but there may be exceptions if disclosure could cause harm or if the patient lacks capacity. Hospital staff can explain how concerns will be handled.
It should not negatively affect the patient's care. Hospitals are expected to treat reports seriously and protect patients from retaliation or reduced care because a concern was raised.
If staff do not respond, the concern should be escalated to the nurse in charge, ward manager, patient relations team, or hospital safety office, and if the risk is urgent, emergency help should be sought immediately.
It can be urgent if the patient is in immediate danger, such as breathing problems, severe pain, a fall, a wrong medication, or sudden confusion. Less urgent issues should still be reported promptly.
The hospital usually reviews the concern, investigates if needed, documents the issue, and may speak with staff or update the patient's care plan to reduce the risk of harm.
Yes, many hospitals accept reports in person, by phone, or in writing through patient liaison, complaints, or safety reporting systems. The best method depends on how urgent the concern is.
If the patient has capacity and disagrees, their wishes should generally be respected unless there is a serious immediate risk to them or others. Staff can help discuss the concern respectfully.
Yes, a legal decision-maker or healthcare proxy may be able to report concerns and participate in care discussions, depending on the legal authority they have and local hospital policy.
It helps to write down the date, time, names of staff spoken to, what was reported, and any response received. This record can be useful if follow-up is needed.
An emergency report should clearly state the immediate danger, the patient's location, the symptoms or unsafe event, and any action already taken, such as calling a nurse or pressing the call bell.
Yes, patient information should be shared only with staff who need it to address the concern. Hospitals are expected to handle reports confidentially and in line with privacy rules.
Yes, communication problems are a valid safety concern if they affect understanding of treatment, consent, medications, discharge instructions, or the patient's ability to get safe care.
You can ask who is responsible for the response, when you should expect an update, and how to escalate if needed. Following up helps ensure the concern has been reviewed and addressed.
Ergsy Search Results
This website offers general information and is not a substitute for professional advice.
Always seek guidance from qualified professionals.
If you have any medical concerns or need urgent help, contact a healthcare professional or emergency services immediately.
Some of this content was generated with AI assistance. We've done our best to keep it accurate, helpful, and human-friendly.
- Ergsy carefully checks the information in the videos we provide here.
- Videos shown by Youtube after a video has completed, have NOT been reviewed by ERGSY.
- To view, click the arrow in centre of video.
- Most of the videos you find here will have subtitles and/or closed captions available.
- You may need to turn these on, and choose your preferred language.
- Go to the video you'd like to watch.
- If closed captions (CC) are available, settings will be visible on the bottom right of the video player.
- To turn on Captions, click settings.
- To turn off Captions, click settings again.