From 1st April 2013 local authorities had a duty to improve the health of the people in their area, and a responsibility for commissioning appropriate public health services. This may include NHS providers, private providers, not-for-profit providers, third sector providers, GP and Pharmacy Providers. The Council may also provide certain public health functions themselves.
A complaint which is about a service which has been commissioned, or purchased by the Authority, to meet a Public Health services' function, will usually be considered within the provider's own complaints procedures in the first instance.
However, people will be able to use the Public Health Complaints Procedure for any matter reasonably connected with the local authority exercise of it public health functions.
If someone is unsure whether their complaint falls within the scope of the Local Authority, the local authority will be able to provide advice through the Customer Liaison Team.