Information About Rights and the Law

 

Action against Medical Accidents

Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) is an independent charity that promotes better patient safety and justice for people who have been affected by a medical accident.

The charity provides free and confidential advice and support to people affected by medical accidents via their helpline and casework service. AvMA can refer clients to a panel of specialist clinical negligence solicitors or they can offer other sources of support where appropriate.

Action against Medical Accidents
44 High Street
Croydon,
Surrey
CR0 1YB  

(Please note: no unarranged callers will be admitted. Please make an appointment first.)

Tel: 0845 123 23 52 (10-12 noon and 2-4 pm Monday to Friday)   
Fax: 020 8667 9065
advice@avma.org.uk
Click here to find out more

 

Advice Guide - Disability Discrimination

This website page provides information from Citizens Advice about disability discrimination.
Click here to find out more

 

AdviceNow

Advicenow provides accurate information on rights and the law in England and Wales. It includes a managed web search of over 200 rights and legal websites, plus features, articles, quizzes and cartoons.

Advicenow is provided by Advice Services Alliance, the coordinating body for UK advice services.
info@advicenow.org.uk
www.advicenow.org.uk

 

British Institute of Human Rights

The BIHR provides a range of information and other resources on its website. It also develops and delivers training and consultancy for the voluntary and community, and public sectors on both practice and policy. BIHR undertakes research and policy analysis and lobbies national government and Parliament, conducts media activity and campaigns and occasionally strategic legal interventions.  BIHR does not provide advice to individuals or take up individuals’ legal cases.

BIHR has produced Your Human Rights - A Guide for Disabled People which gives an idea of situations that may involve human rights. It gives the knowledge to be able to recognise and challenge human rights abuses. Please note that this guide is not legal advice.

Tel:    020 7848 1818

gcreaven@bihr.org.uk
www.bihr.org.uk

 

Promoting Equality for Disabled People

 

Disability Equality Duty
The Disability Equality Duty is meant to ensure that all public bodies - such as central or local government, schools, health trusts or emergency services - pay ‘due regard’ to the promotion of equality for disabled people in every area of their work.
For more information, please click on this link to be taken to the DED website

 

Equality 2025

All civil rights legislation and policy should ensure disabled and non-disabled people are on an equal footing and people enjoy the same level of freedoms, control and choices over their lives.

Equality 2025 is working with government and stakeholders, such as the Commission for Equalities and Human Rights, on issues affecting disabled people including; human and civil rights; citizenship; and access to the legal justice system.  They aim to advise government on how its legislation and policy affect people people with a disability’s rights, citizenship, and access to justice.

Equality 2025
c/o The Secretariat
Caxton House
6-12 Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA

Tel: 0845 4602025

info@equality2025.org
Click here for further information on Equality 2025

 

Every Disabled Child Matters

Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) is the campaign to protect the rights of every child with a disability. EDCM wants all children with disabilities and their families to have the right to the services and support they need to live ordinary lives.

Tel:  020 7843 6082

info@edcm.org.uk
Click here to visit EDCM

 

Health and Safety Executive

Health and safety for disabled people and their employers. The site promotes good practice in disability equality at work, as well as dealing with health and safety risk assessments.

Ask an expert: 0845 345 0055
Click here to visit the Health & Safety Executive

 

Seeking Legal or Human Rights Advice

 

Citizens Advice Bureau

Citizens Advice Bureaux provide free, confidential, and independent advice which includes legal advice. Find your local CAB by visiting the website or phoning the following number.

Tel:    020 7833 2181 (for contact details of local CAB only)
www.citizensadvice.org.uk

 

Community Legal Advice

This website offers free, confidential and independent legal advice for residents of England and Wales. You can use the Legal Adviser Directory to find a legal adviser in your area. All providers have the Community Legal Service Quality Mark. For more information about the Community Legal Service Quality Mark, please click on this link. You can also find out if you are eligible for legal aid which helps with the costs of legal advice for people who can’t afford it.

Helpline:    0845 345 4345.
www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk

 

Disability Law Service

The Disability Law Service (DLS) provides advice and information in the following six areas of law:

• Disability Discrimination
• Consumer
• Community Care
• Further and Higher Education
• Employment
• Welfare Benefits (Greater London Area)

DLS also provides a casework service, and support at any level of the legal system.

Tel: 020 7791 9800
Fax: 020 7791 9802
Advice Line: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

advice@dls.org.uk

 

Law Centre Federation

Law Centres are not-for-profit legal practices providing free legal advice and representation to disadvantaged people. There are 56 Law Centres in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, staffed by solicitors and barristers who specialise in areas of civil law including employment, housing, discrimination, welfare benefits, education and immigration. Visit the website to locate a law centre near you. Please note the Law Centre Federation itself cannot give legal advice.

Tel:     020 7842 0720

info@lawcentres.org.uk
www.lawcentres.org.uk

 

Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is a national body, which may be able to give advice about disability discrimination. The Equality Commission may be able to help you take further action about disability discrimination by investigating alleged discrimination, applying to court for an order to stop discrimination, and by arranging (in some cases) for legal representation. The Commission can also provide conciliation for you if you believe that you have been discriminated against in access to goods, services or premises. For cases which involve discrimination in employment, the Labour Relations Agency provides a conciliation service.

Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline England

Telephone:      0845 604 6610 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Textphone:     0845 604 6620
englandhelpline@equalityhumanrights.com

Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline Wales

Telephone:     0845 604 8810 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Textphone:    0845 604 8820
waleshelpline@equalityhumanrights.com

Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline Scotland

Telephone:    0845 604 5510 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Textphone:    0845 604 5520
scotlandhelpline@equalityhumanrights.com

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

Telephone:   028 9050 0600
Textphone:  028 9050 0589
information@equalityni.org

 

The Law Society

The Law Society is the regulatory and representative body for solicitors in England and Wales. Although they do not provide legal advice, their website has an online directory of solicitors and law firms.

www.lawsociety.org.uk/home.law

 

Liberty

Liberty works to promote human rights and protect civil liberties through a combination of test case litigation, lobbying, campaigning and the provision of free advice.
www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk

Liberty will provide advice and information on queries relating to human rights law. They are unable to assist with general legal queries. Please note that advice given under this service is not to be considered formal legal advice.

Click here to find out more

Tel:        0845 123 2307 or 020 3145 0461
Contact:  Mon -Thurs, 6.30pm - 8.30pm, Wed 12.30pm - 2.30pm

 

Making a Complaint

 

Complain to NHS  

If you have a complaint about NHS services you need to contact the NHS directly.

1. Ask your hospital or trust for a copy of their complaints procedure. Your first step will normally involve raising the matter, either in person or in writing, with the practitioner, e.g. the nurse or doctor concerned, or with their organisation’s complaints manager. This is called local resolution and most cases are resolved at this stage.

2. If you’re still unhappy with the outcome, you can then go to the Health Service Ombudsman, who is independent of the NHS and government.

The Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS), Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) or Citizens Advice Bureau can help you with a complaint.

Please see below for more information on the Patient Advice and Liaison Service, and the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service.

 

The Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS)

There is a Patient Advice and Liaison Service in every NHS trust which can provide further information and discuss options about how a complaint can be resolved. Some complaints can be taken up by PALS on someone’s behalf and resolved to their satisfaction. Other complaints may require an investigation to be carried out, subject to the nature of your complaint. In either case, PALS is a good starting point. You can locate your local PALS through their website:

www.pals.nhs.uk

 

Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS)

The ICAS supports patients and their carers wishing to pursue a complaint about their NHS treatment or care. Visit the website to find ICAS offices near you. Alternatively, please use the list below to find the telephone number for your local ICAS.

Contact telephone number in your region

• North East                               0845 120 3732
• Yorkshire, Humberside         0845 120 3734
• North West                              0845 120 3735
• West Midlands                        0845 120 3748
• South West                              0845 120 3782
• London                                     0845 120 3784
• Bedfordshire,Hertfordshire  0845 456 1082
• Essex                                        0845 456 1083
• Cambridge,Norfolk,Suffolk   0845 456 1084
• South East                              0845 600 8616
• East Midlands                        0845 650 0088

 

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman carries out independent investigations into complaints about unfair or improper actions, or complaints about poor service by UK government departments, one of its agencies, or the NHS in England. Their website has information about how to make a complaint. Please click the link below to be taken to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman website.

Tel:     0345 015 4033

phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk
www.ombudsman.org.uk

 

Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. CQC aims to make sure better care is provided for everyone, whether that’s in care homes, in people’s own homes, or elsewhere. It regulates health and adult social care services, whether provided by local authorities, private companies or voluntary organisations. They also protect the rights of people detained under the Mental Health Act.

To share concerns and complaints about social care service; the NHS; your council; any independent healthcare services; or the CQC; the CQC advises to follow the complaint procedures of the particular service. If you are unhappy with the way your complaint has been handled you can contact the CQC. CQC can not investigate individual complaints but will check whether the service is meeting the national minimum standards and regulations by meeting the needs of the people who live there. If they are not, CQC will take action to make sure that services are improved. For more information on how to make a complaint, please click on this link.

Care Quality Commission National Correspondence,
Citygate
Gallowgate
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4PA

Tel:    03000 616161 Mon - Fri, 8.30am - 5.30pm

enquiries@cqc.org.uk
www.cqc.org.uk

 

Complain to your council

If you would like to make a complaint about social care services provided through a local council, you need to contact your local council directly. Your local council is legally required to have a complaints procedure about the social services it provides. Click here to find your local council’s contact details.

 

The Local Government Ombudsman

The Local Government Ombudsman looks at complaints about councils and some other authorities. It is a free independent service. If you have a problem with a council service, you should, in the first instance, complain to the council. If you are still not satisfied, then you can contact the Local Government Ombudsman.

Tel: 0300 061 0614 or 0845 602 1983 LGO Advice Team
Text: ‘call back’ to 0762 480 4299

advice@lgo.org.uk

 

Local Advice and Support

 

Contacting your MP or Councilor

Everyone has the right to contact their local MP to discuss issues affecting them. MPs will generally only act on behalf of their constituents, so please check you are contacting the MP who represents your constituency. MPs are more able to help you with issues that Parliament or government are responsible for, such as: tax (but not council tax as this is set and paid to your local authority), hospitals and the National Health Service (not local social services), benefits, pensions, National Insurance, immigration, school closures and grants (not day-to-day school problems like governors or the local education authority).  You can find out how to contact your MP through phoning the House of Commons Information Office on the number below or click here to visit the Parliament website.

Tel:     020 72194272

hcinfo@parliament.uk
www.parliament.uk

 

Local advice

In addition to some of the national organisations listed above, there may be a range of local advice or support services near to you. You can find out about this through the following organisations:

Citizens Advice Bureau

Your local Citizens Advice Bureaux will provide free, confidential and independent advice including legal advice. CAB might also be able to point you to other local legal advice services. Find your local CAB by visiting the website or phoning the following number.

Tel:    020 7833 2181 (this number will give contact details of local CAB only)
www.citizensadvice.org.uk

 

DIAL UK

Disability Information and Advice Line is a national organisation for a network of approximately 120 local disability information and advice services run by and for disabled people. Contact DIAL UK to find a local DIAL near you:

DIAL UK
St Catherine’s
Tickhill Road
Doncaster
South Yorkshire,
DN4 8QN

Telephone:      01302 310 404
Textphone:     01302 310 123

Click here to find a DIAL near you.