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# NHS complaints in Suffolk and North East Essex rise by nearly a quarter
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/nhs-complaints-in-suffolk-and-north-east-essex-rise-by-nearly-a-quarter/
- Published: 2024-10-28T12:20:57.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:31:50.000Z
- Description: New figures show that more than 2,000 formal complaints were made against NHS services in Suffolk and North East Essex last year. The 23% increase mirrors a national trend that has hit record levels.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Health & Care Services, #article, Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), #Import 2026-03-16 14:46

**The big picture:** NHS England figures reveal 2,123 written complaints were lodged against hospital and community health services at the [NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/nhs-suffolk-and-north-east-essex-integrated-care-board/) in the year to March, reflecting the immense pressure NHS workers are under.

![Garrett Anderson Centre at Ipswich Hospital](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1736335449-garrett-anderson-centre-at-ipswich-hospital-8.jpg)

The Garrett Anderson Centre at Ipswich Hospital Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams (Ipswich.co.uk)

**Why it matters:** The surge in complaints indicates growing frustration with local health services, with three-quarters of all complaints being found to have merit:

- 21% were fully upheld, meaning investigators agreed completely with the complaint.
- 54% were partially upheld, where some but not all aspects of the complaint were found to be justified.
- The remaining complaints were dismissed.

**Zooming out:** The local increase reflects a wider national picture, with written complaints across England reaching 241,922 last year – the highest figure since records began in 2016-17\. The 5% rise has led to Labour branding the NHS "broken", while health think tank The King's Fund says patient frustration is rising across the country.

**The key issues:** Communication problems topped the list of concerns, followed by patient care quality and staff behaviour and values.

**What you can do:** Louise Ansari, chief executive of Healthwatch England, says patients should know they have the right to complain, explaining: "Patients appreciate the pressures health and care services are under. However, the public deserves a complaints system that is easy to navigate, timely, empathetic."

**Looking ahead:** Healthwatch, which operates independently from the NHS, is launching new research to examine:

- Who feels confident enough to formally complain
- What stops other patients from raising concerns
- How the complaints system could be improved

**The bottom line:** If you need to raise concerns about NHS care in Suffolk or North East Essex, you can contact [Healthwatch](https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/help-make-complaint?ref=ipswich.co.uk) for independent advice on navigating the complaints process.

### Sources

- [Data on Written Complaints in the NHS](https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/data-on-written-complaints-in-the-nhs?ref=ipswich.co.uk)

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