Help with our website
This section provides help for visitors to find and access information on the Healthcare Commission website.
Finding information on the website
Q: How can I find the information that I am looking for?
A: Use the navigation buttons to access the main sections of the site, then access the sub-sections to find the information you require. You can also use the A-Z site index, or the search field, found at the top right of each screen. This will search the whole of the Healthcare Commission website.
Q: What if I still cannot find the information I am looking for?
A: If you are still having problems finding information, or have a question that you want to ask, please visit the Contact us section of this site, by following the link below.
Printing web pages
Q: Why don't web pages print properly?
A: If you experience problems printing web pages, try changing the page orientation to 'landscape', done through the 'page set-up' option under the 'File' menu. Sometimes printing from the file menu rather than the print icon works best.
Q: What if I'm still having problems printing?
A: You may be using a version of Internet Explorer that is known to have problems printing web pages (Internet Explorer 5.5 service pack 1). This version of Internet Explorer is no longer supported by Microsoft, so you will need to upgrade to a newer version. You can download Internet Explorer 6.1 for free from the Microsoft website, just follow the link below.
Click here for Microsoft Internet downloads (opens new window)
PDF files
Q: How do I view PDF files?
A: You can obtain more information on viewing and using Adobe Acrobat PDF files by clicking the link below.
External sites
Q: How do I get back to the Healthcare Commission site from an external site?
A: Clicking a link to an external site will open the site in another browser window. To return to the Healthcare Commission site, simply close the second window.
Q: Why can't I access an external website?
A: We cannot guarantee that websites linked from the Healthcare Commission site will be available. If you continue to have problems with a link from the Healthcare Commission site, please do contact us at this email address: webmaster@healthcarecommission.org.uk
Help with advanced search
Q: What is Advanced search? Why should I use it?
A: Advanced search is an easy way to enter more specific search criteria, which can produce better search results.
Q: How do I access Advanced search?
A: To access Advanced search, click on the Advanced search link beneath the Basic search box in the top right-hand corner of each page. You can also link to Advanced search from the search results page when you want to refine a search.
Q: What are word combinations?
A: Word combinations help narrow your search results by specifying which words and phrases MUST appear, which MUST NOT and which COULD. Enter words that must appear in your search results in the With all of the words field, e.g. Gateway Partnerlink. Enter words that must appear together in the same order in With the exact phrase field, e.g. Gordon Brown. Use the With at least one of the words field when the same topic might be described with different words, e.g. internet web. Use the Without the words field to exclude results that contain a particular word. For example, if you want to find information on DiTV but not in the context of BSkyB, enter DiTV in the With at least one of the words field and BSkyB in the Without the words field.
Q: Can I ask a question?
A: Yes: simply type your question in the Ask a question field and click on Go.
Q: Can I limit the scope of my search?
A: Yes, you can limit the scope of your search in the Refine results section of Advanced search. You can choose This site from the Search within dropdown list. You can also specify which parts of web pages you want to search in the Search in dropdown list . Finally, you can also search within a certain period of time by selecting a date range.
Complaints about the NHS and independent health service that have not been successfully resolved at a local level, are the responsibility of the Healthcare Commission.
Most reports on this site are PDF files, to view any PDF file you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.