Which regulator handles what
A complaint sent to the wrong body wastes months. Find what you want to complain about, then follow the link to a step-by-step guide.
What is this?
There is no single regulator for everything that can go wrong around a hospital death. Different bodies cover doctors, nurses, social care workers, the data law, complaint handling, and solicitors. This page helps you pick the right one. Each has its own short guide with exactly what to do.
A useful rule of thumb: regulators of individuals (GMC, NMC, SSSC) look at a named professional and whether they are safe to keep practising. Regulators of organisations and process (SPSO, ICO) look at how a body behaved. They are not alternatives. You can pursue more than one at the same time.
Find your situation
- A doctorComplain to the GMC: concerns about a doctor's care or conduct
- A nurse / midwifeComplain to the NMC: concerns about a nurse, midwife or nursing associate
- A care workerComplain to the SSSC: a registered social care worker in Scotland
- The NHS boardComplain to the SPSO: how your complaint was handled, and the standard of care
- Data / recordsComplain to the ICO: records withheld, or a data request ignored
- A solicitorComplain to the SLCC: poor service or conduct by a solicitor
A little more about each
GMC: General Medical Council (doctors)
Looks at whether a doctor is fit to practise. It cannot award you money or settle a one-off dispute, but it can warn, restrict, suspend or remove a doctor. If your concern is about end-of-life decisions, the GMC's own guidance, Treatment and care towards the end of life, is important: it says doctors must start from a presumption in favour of prolonging life (paragraph 7) and must presume that an adult patient has the capacity to make their own decisions (paragraph 8), and its decision-making models make clear that a patient who has capacity is the one who decides between the treatment options and may refuse treatment, even for reasons that seem irrational or for no reason at all. Full guide and how to complain.
NMC: Nursing and Midwifery Council (nurses and midwives)
Looks at the fitness to practise of nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Full guide and how to complain.
SSSC: Scottish Social Services Council (social care workers)
Regulates registered social service workers in Scotland and can act only where the worker is on its Register. Full guide and how to complain.
SPSO: Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (the NHS board)
The final stage for NHS complaints. It looks at both how the board handled your complaint and the standard of clinical care. You must complete the NHS complaints procedure first. Full guide and how to complain.
ICO: Information Commissioner's Office (data and records)
The regulator for data protection. Use it when a records or data request is ignored, or records are withheld without a proper basis. It cannot award compensation, but a finding in your favour supports a separate claim. Full guide and how to complain.
SLCC: Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (solicitors)
The single front door for complaints about solicitors in Scotland, covering poor service and conduct. Full guide and how to complain.
Last updated: June 2026