What Is Complaint Adjudication, and Is It Mandatory in the UK?

Updated 18 October 2026

Adjudication is the final stage of a complaint, where a neutral party separate from the clinic reviews it and reaches a decision.

Why it matters

For patients: a fair, independent hearing when the clinic's own process has not resolved things, free of charge.
For clinics: it shows regulators you take complaints seriously, and gives an unresolved complaint somewhere to go other than court.

Is it mandatory?

No. CQC, HIS, HIW and RQIA do not require providers to join a complaint scheme.

But CQC guidance says providers should consider an independent review stage, and calls independent adjudication good practice. Private patients cannot use the health service ombudsman, so without it they have no neutral route.

Who provides it

HSCAMP, ISCAS and CHIAS offer independent adjudication for private healthcare. The Cosmetic Redress Scheme offers non binding decisions for some cosmetic complaints.

Questions

Does adjudication stop a patient going to court?

No. Patients keep their legal rights. An HSCAMP adjudication decision binds the clinic once the patient accepts it, never the patient, and the patient's statutory rights, including the right to go to court, are not affected. Either side can ask for a review within 14 days on the grounds in the Scheme Rules.

Sources

This page is general information, not legal advice.