Objections

You may submit an objection if you are dissatisfied with the service, care, or treatment you have received in social welfare or health care services provided by the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.

Are you dissatisfied with the service, care, or the way you were treated? 

It is recommended that any concerns first be addressed through discussion with the unit that provided the service or care. The matter may be discussed and clarified with the employee who provided the service or care, the person who made the decision, or, if necessary, their supervisor. Discussion is often the quickest and most effective way of resolving the matter. 

You also have the option to submit feedback through the feedback service.

In addition, you may seek advice from the Social and Patient Ombudspersons. They can assist in matters relating to treatment and legal protection. They are impartial and can advise you on how to proceed in your particular case.

Objection

If discussing the matter with the provider of care or services does not resolve it, you may submit an objection. In your objection, describe as precisely as possible what you are dissatisfied with in the health care or social welfare services you received. You will receive a written response within a reasonable time after submitting the objection.

Submit an objection(external link)

If, due to illness, impaired mental capacity or another comparable reason, a client in social welfare or a patient in health care is unable to submit an objection personally, or if the client has died, the objection may be submitted by their legal representative, next of kin or another person close to them.

If you are unable to submit an objection using the electronic form, you may also use the printable form available at the bottom of the page or submit a free-form letter. In special circumstances, an objection may also be submitted orally.

Any claims for damages made by clients and patients are also examined as part of the objection procedure. Compensation for damage is governed by the Tort Liability Act, and any dispute concerning damages is a private-law matter to be resolved by a court.

However, as part of its self-monitoring, the wellbeing services county may compensate clients and patients for clear cases of damage they have suffered. In such instances, a separate office-holder decision is made concerning the payment of compensation. If necessary, the person handling the compensation matter will reach out to the client or patient for further information.

Personal injuries caused to a patient in connection with health care or medical treatment are compensated under patient insurance, and such matters are handled by the Patient Insurance Centre. In these situations, the patient will be advised to file a patient injury report with the Patient Insurance Centre.

If a claim for damages is submitted on behalf of a client by a legal guardian ('edunvalvoja') or by a person authorised under a confirmed continuing power of attorney ('edunvalvontavaltuutettu'), the claim must include a copy of the guardianship decision or the confirmed continuing power of attorney, together with the power-of-attorney document. A claim for damages may also be submitted through an authorised representative. The representative must provide a power of attorney demonstrating their authority. The claim must also include proof of the value of the damage (for example, a purchase receipt).

You cannot appeal against the response given to your objection.

In social welfare services, submitting an objection does not limit the client’s right to seek a remedy as separately provided by law. Nor does submitting an objection affect the client’s right to file a complaint with the authorities supervising social welfare services.

In health care, submitting an objection does not limit the patient’s right to file a complaint with the health care supervisory authorities about their care or the way they were treated in connection with it.

How to file a complaint

www.lvv.fi Finnish Supervisory Agency, PL 20, 13035 LVV

www.oikeusasiamies.fi Parliamentary Ombudsperson, 00102 EDUSKUNTA

www.oikeuskansleri.fi Chancellor of Justice, PL 20, 00023 Valtioneuvosto

If you suspect that your treatment at the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County was not provided appropriately, or that an error occurred in your care, you may submit a patient injury notice to the Patient Insurance Centre. The Patient Insurance Centre centrally processes and decides all patient injury notices concerning health care and medical treatment provided in Finland. The process is free of charge, impartial and separate from the care process itself.

www.pvk.fi Patient Insurance Centre, PL 1, 00084 VAKUUTUSKESKUS

The Social and Patient Ombudsperson can also advise you, where necessary, on how to file a patient injury notice or a complaint: https://www.luvn.fi/en/our-client/right-access-and-other-clients-rights/social-and-patient-ombudsman

Please note that, in relation to a complaint, an objection is the primary procedure. If no objection has been submitted in the matter and the supervisory authority considers that the matter would most appropriately be dealt with as an objection, the authority may transfer the matter to the wellbeing services county to be processed as an objection.

Objections

Are you dissatisfied with the service, care, or the way you were treated?

Objection

Claims for damages

Complaint

Downloadable objection form

Are you dissatisfied with the service, care, or the way you were treated? 