Right to Respond

As part of our commitment to providing an honest and transparent view of health and social care services, Healthwatch Birmingham encourages providers to respond to comments the public have left.

Alongside ensuring providers can have a fair say in discussions about their services, replying to reviews demonstrates evidence of responding to patient feedback for the CQC, who regularly monitor our Feedback Centre. It is also an effective way to recruit service users for any wider engagement work at your organisation.

Guidelines for provider responses:

  • Keep language appropriate and civil
  • Remain professional and treat people’s comments fairly
  • Engage with the content of the review by addressing specific points and avoid cut and pasting a standard response
  • Don’t disclose the service user’s personal details or any potentially identifying information
  • Where appropriate leave organisational contact details e.g PALS or patient engagement teams for people to get further information

Remember: your response will be seen by everyone who uses the Feedback Centre, not just the original reviewer. All responses are moderated in accordance with our moderation policy.

For full terms and conditions, including a guide to how right to reply works for service providers download this guide.

Your reply

* Required fields

Original feedback for

Scott Arms Dental Practice


Very disappointed

I have been a long-time patient of Scotts Arms and have always had positive experiences—until my most recent visit. Recently, I called in regarding discomfort in my back tooth and was given an appointment for 9 PM after initially specifying my need for a late appointment. I was seen by a dentist, who was incredibly rude and unprofessional during our interaction. Despite not requesting an emergency appointment, the dentist insisted I needed two fillings but could only provide temporary solutions. When I expressed my confusion, he laughed and said, “Who do you think is going to give you a normal appointment at 9 PM?” This comment made me feel belittled, and he seemed indifferent to my concerns. When I spoke with the reception staff afterwards, they mentioned that stating I was in pain automatically classified my visit as an emergency. I don't agree with this policy, as I simply voiced my need for an appointment, the same way I would for a doctor's visit. While the reception staff and the dental assistant were helpful, the dentist's dismissive attitude was unacceptable. Patients deserve to be treated with respect and understanding, and I hope he can improve his communication style in the future. Overall, my experience today was very disappointing, and I hope the clinic addresses this issue moving forward.