Last updated: 26 January 2026. Next review: 26 January 2028

We urge anyone affected by alopecia to formally complain if you believe the care you receive from the NHS is inadequate. We encourage each individual to put into their own words the importance of getting the care or treatment they need, explaining the impact their alopecia is having on their quality of life.

For people living in England

The NHS website is a good starting point for understanding your rights and the complaint process. 

PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) offers confidential advice, support and information on health-related matters. It provides a point of contact for patients, their families and their carers. You can find PALS officers in your local hospital on the NHS website. PALS can provide information about the NHS complaints procedure, including how to get independent help if you want to make a complaint.

Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion for health and social care in England. It operates as Healthwatch England at national level and as local Healthwatch at local level. It can help you to make a complaint about NHS health and social care services and will be able to provide more information about local services.

If you’ve made a complaint and it has not been resolved to your satisfaction, you have the right to take your complaint to the independent Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is the final stage in the NHS complaints system. 

For people living in Wales

The NHS Wales website is a good place to start. This explains how to complain to your local health board, NHS Trust or special health authority.

We cannot find a handy postcode search function, as above for England, but you should be able to find details on the health board’s website. Most of the complaints procedures include links to forms and their full process.

Llais is an independent body which provides free and confidential complaints advocacy and support.

If you are not satisfied with the health board or trust’s response, you can contact the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

For people living in Scotland

This page from the mygov.scot website, and this page from NHS Inform are good places to start. They explain the complaints handling procedure and when you'll get a response.

To complain about an NHS service – such as a hospital, GP or dentist – you should complain to the person or organisation. For example if it's a complaint about your doctor, you could complain to the surgery. If you do not want to make a direct complaint or your complaint has not been resolved, contact your local NHS health board or special NHS board.

The mygov.scot website includes a drop down with links to each of the health boards.

For help and advice with complaints, contact your local Patient Advice & Support Service (PASS). The service is free, independent and confidential.

If you are unhappy with an NHS board's final decision, you can ask the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) to review your complaint. The NHS board must tell you how to do this when they send you the final decision.

For people living in Northern Ireland

Responsibility for dealing with complaints about health and social care services in Northern Ireland is placed with the provider of the service.  You can raise concerns with your individual health trusts. The nidirect page is a good place to start. 

If you wish to get in touch with your Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland, contact details for the six Health and Social Care Trusts can be found here.

The Patient and Client Council (PCC) can give you information on how to raise a concern or make a complaint. They also offer a freephone support service to support the public with questions, concerns or complaints.

If you are not happy with the final decision of the provider organisation, you can refer your complaint to the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO)