The Patient Safety Advocacy Service provides a free and independent national service to public health service users wishing to make a formal complaint. It will continue in acute hospitals and will expand to other settings including nursing homes within the lifetime of the contract. It will meet the needs of the service user within an acceptable time- and refer to other services as appropriate. Appropriate governance and structures are required. It will be staffed by advocates who will undergo appropriate training to be commissioned externally. Codes and standards have been developed and will continue to be reviewed as well as reporting on cost, activity and progress.