NHS complaints 'too difficult'

Peter Vanston made a complaint to a hospital about the care his mother received. He says the main problems with the complaints systems are, 'delays, denials and defence' as the NHS closes ranks making it difficult for people to complain.

Read: Ann Clwyd's mission to give patients a say in the NHS

Peter told ITV News he had high hopes for the investigation by Labour MP Ann Clwyd: "I hope there'll be a complete change in culture in the health service...that it will stop having the default setting of delay, deny, defend. Any complaint, or negative feedback being treated as a threat."

Read more: NHS 'wilful neglect' proposal

Gail Newmarch's mother died in hospital in 2006 after which the patient in the bed next to hers made a complaint over her treatment.

Gail said the first they realised a complaint had been made was when police came to their home the day before her mother's funeral.

Watch - Ann Clywd: Patients dying unnecessarily in hospital

Gail now says that, "there's a lack of dignity and I think there's a lack of honesty when things go wrong. I think there needs to be much more transparency and much more accountability."

Labour MP Ann Clwyd has been called upon by the Prime Minister to investigate how patient complaints are dealt with.

Read more NHS news.

Labour MP Ann Clwyd, whose husband died last year after catching pneumonia in hospital, was called upon by the Prime Minister to investigate how patient complaints are dealt with.

For the last few months Mrs Clwyd has heard evidence from thousands of patients and families across England.

Speaking to Social Affairs Editor Penny Marshall, she said she believes people are dying unnecessarily in NHS hospitals, and families are not being given the answers they deserve.

Read: Ann Clwyd's mission to give patients a say in the NHS

Watch: Widow MP questions Cameron over poor NHS nursing