How to complain, if you are abused by the personnel at the institution?
If you are in any way abused by the personnel at the mental health care institution, you can submit the following complaints:
You can complain firstly to the administration of the section or the administration of the institution. They should be able to help you, especially if you have been treated rudely or verbally insulted.
If you are not satisfied with the response of the administration you should file a complaint to the Health Care Quality Expert Commission. The Commission’s main role is to act as an independent counsellor for patients but its decisions have no legislative power. If the Commission finds the health care provider to be responsible for malpractice and causing health damage, the patient has a right to have their case heard in court and the Health Board could fine or withdraw the licence of the health provider concerned.
You can submit a complaint to the Health Board. The Health Board will evaluate the circumstances. There is no specific application form, you can send an e-mail or letter via regular mail. The board will consider your application for free and ask you for further documentation if needed.
important If the administration suspects that the mistreatment has resulted in a criminal offence, they have a duty to report this to the police. You also have the right to turn directly to the police. Upon such a complaint, the police must act accordingly and investigate the situation.
It is possible, that a criminal case will be opened against the member of staff involved on the basis of your complaint. In this case you should ask for compensation for damages as a victim in the criminal proceedings. If the compensation claim in the criminal proceedings cannot, or cannot fully, redress your damages, you have the further right to seek these damages by filing a civil claim.