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, , Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside  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. Please call the Office number for revised arrangements.

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  

  • Now we have a clear road map from the Government we will be working to open up our Service as quickly as practical. As the vaccination programme rolls out to our vulnerable clients we will be able to move back to more community based work where safe to do so.
  • We are proud as a service to be fully functional and adapted to lots of changes during the COVID 19 pandemic. including planning for the  arrangements in the North East. Please talk to us if you need any support or would like us to participate in a “virtual” meeting, a call costs nothing apart from your time.

Please note our Office will remain closed to the public until Government guidance dictates otherwise as we have moved back to remote work working for the short term. Any post addressed to the Office will be actioned. Telephone and electronic access is unaffected.

  • Whist making a complaint to the NHS is a decision for you: if you do not how with the NHS be able to learn and improve for the future? There are positive benefits from all negative experiences.
  • Finally  the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has published their information around the new Complaints standards framework please follow this link:- https://www.ombudsman.org.uk/complaint-standards