Advocacy services help ensure our patients' voices are heard in decisions about their treatment and care.
If you are being treated under the Mental Health Act, you can get free and confidential support from an Independent mental health advocate (IMHAs).
If you want to make a formal complaint you can get support from an independent health complaints advocacy service. They can write letters on your behalf, attend meetings with you, and provide interpreters if needed.
National services
Rethink Advocacy
- Telephone: 0300 790 0559
- Email: advocacyreferralhub@rethink.org
- Website: www.rethink.org
Local services
Bexley Advocacy for All
- Tel: 0845 310 1812
- Email: bexleynhscomplaints@advocacyforall.org.uk
- Website: https://www.advocacyforall.org.uk/contact-us/
Bromley Advocacy for All
- Tel: 0345 310 1812 — Press option 2 for Bromley
- Email: bromleynhscomplaints@advocacyforall.org.uk
- Website: https://www.advocacyforall.org.uk/bromley/
Croydon: Advocacy for all
- Tel: 0845 310 1812 option 1
- Email: referrals@advocacyforall.org.uk
- Website: www.advocacyforcroydon.org
Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth: POhWER
- Tel: 0203 143 9000
- Email: advocacy@connectlambeth.org
- Website: https://connectlambeth.org/our-services/advocacy/ihcas/
- Address: Disability Advice Service Lambeth ‘We are 336’ (formerly the Accord Centre) 336 Brixton Road London SW9 7A
If you are a Lambeth resident, the provider of independent NHS complaints advocacy is Voice Ability | Advocacy and involvement and can be contacted via:
Phone 0300 303 1660
Email helpline@voiceability.org
Lewisham: Healthwatch Lewisham
- Tel: 020 3886 0196
- Website: www.healthwatchlewisham.co.uk
- Email: info@healthwatchlewisham.co.uk
- Address: Healthwatch Lewisham and Advocacy Service Waldram Place Forest Hill London SE23 2LB.
Southwark The Advocacy People
- E-mail: info@theadvocacypeople.org.uk
- Tel: 0330 440 9000
- Address: PO Box 375, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 9HU
- Website: www.theadvocacypeople.org.uk
Wandsworth & Richmond Rethink
- Tel: 0300 7900 559
- Email: advocacyreferralhub@rethink.org
- Address: 28 Albert Embankment London, SE1 7GR
If you live in another borough please ask your council for details of your local NHS advocacy service.