North East ICA

FREE PHONE 0808 802 3000

NHS Advocacy is now provided by North East NHS Independent Complaints Advocacy (ICA),supporting individuals complaining about the NHS in the following local authority areas:

Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland,  and Sunderland.

This service replaced the previous Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) in 2013 and  continues to be delivered by the Carers Federation Ltd, who now have over sixteen years experience of supporting people in the North East with NHS complaints. Please click on the Independent Complaints Advocacy link on the left hand banner for an overview of how we can help.

How to find us

The service is based at:
Aidan House
Sunderland Road
Gateshead
NE8 3HU

 Local Links you may find useful

Healthwatch – the local voice for health and social care issues

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Outreach venues by appointment suspended temporarily due to COVID 19

We have fully experienced Advocates in all Local Authority areas and  at certain core venues by appointment. Alternatively, in response to feedback and to make our service more accessible, we are able to meet at  any other venue to suit a clients needs.To make an appointment please call 0191- 4788350 or email ica@carersfederation.co.uk to explore options. Deaf Clients can contact us by text 07789088284 or BSL Whats app video on 07738994040

Darlington
Healthwatch Darlington  1  Chancery Lane
Darlington
1st Monday monthly 11am-1pm by appointment only		 Gateshead
Aidan House Sunderland Road NE8 3HU Weds afternoons – no appointment required 1.30pm -4pm
Durham
Healthwatch County Durham, Whitfield House, St Johns Road
Meadowfield Industrial Estate, Durham DH7 8XL
2nd Thursday of month 2-4pm
 Hartlepool
ORCEL Wynyard Road Hartlepool TS25 3LB
every 3rd Wednesday 9.30-12pm
Middlesbrough
Live Well Centre
Dundas Arcade Middlesbrough
1st Weds of each mth 1-4pm

Newcastle

Contact Office for latest arrangements
North Tyneside
 Contact Office for arrangements Ist Tuesday 12pm -3pm		 Redcar
Contact Office for arrangements
First Wednesday of every month 9.30am -12pm

South Tyneside

Contact Office for arrangements

Sunderland

Contact Office for arrangements

 

Latest update  September 2020: We have adapted our service to meet some additional Clients needs and are pleased to offer appointments through virtual platforms ether Zoom or Teams whilst we are unable to use our Outreach locations as a further option.  We know our Clients also prefer phone or email and there is no intention to ever move away from this. If you are a referrer to our Service let us know if a virtual solution will help during these times. We are hoping to launch our revised Facebook page in the next month.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has updated their website with a recent webinar on the proposed NHS Complaints standards framework you can watch it and read a transcript here www.ombudsman.org.uk/csf

We are proud as a service to have been fully functional and adapted to lots of changes during the current COVID 19 pandemic with more to come. Please talk to us if you need any support, a call costs nothing apart from your time.

PLEASE NOTE OUR OFFICE IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FROM 1ST OCTOBER AS PER GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE WE HAVE MOVED BACK TO HOME WORKING TEMPORARILY.