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Publication, Part of

Data on Written Complaints in the NHS, 2025-26

National statistics, Accredited official statistics

Publication Date:
15 Oct 2026
Geographic Coverage:
England
Geographical Granularity:
Ambulance Trusts, Care Trusts, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Hospital and Community Health Services, Hospital Trusts, Hospital Sites, Independent Sector Health Care Providers, Mental Health Trusts, NHS Trusts, GP practices, Regions, Dental practices
Date Range:
01 Apr 2015 to 31 Mar 2026
Accredited official statistics logo.

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Data on Written Complaints in the NHS, 2025-26

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Introduction
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Summary

This publication shows a count of written complaints made by (or on behalf of) patients, received between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 in England. The two data collections are:

i) KO41a – NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS)

ii) KO41b – Primary Care (GP and Dental)

Key Facts

All NHS Written Complaints: (Hospital and Community Health Services and Primary Care)

  • The total number of all reported written complaints in the NHS in 2025-26 was 305,264, an increase of 48,487 (18.9%) from 2024-25 (256,777).

 

Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS)

  • Within HCHS there were 139,227 complaints in 2025-26, an increase of 25,447 (22.4%) from 2024-25 (113,780).
  • The proportion of complaints being fully upheld in 2025-26 was 21.9% compared to 25.0% in 2024-25.
  • The largest proportion of new complaints received by individual subject area was Communications with 17.2%.

 

Primary Care (GP and Dental)

  • Within primary care there were 166,037 complaints in 2025-26, an increase of 23,040 (16.1%) from 2024-25 (142,997).
  • The proportion of complaints being fully upheld in 2025-26 was 29.5% compared to 30.3% in 2024-25.
  • The largest proportion of new complaints received by individual subject area in General and Dental practices was Clinical Treatment with 15.8% (GP) and 31.4% (Dental).

Last edited: 15 October 2026 9:31 am