Complaints about the NHS fell by 4% last year, according to new figures.
A total of 21,456 complaints about the health service were received in 2015/16, down from 22,417 the previous year.
The drop was welcomed by Health Secretary Shona Robison.
Official statistics show that in NHS Scotland five complaints were made for every 10,000 contacts with the service, including hospital admissions, outpatient appointments, A&E attendances, visits to GPs and nurses and dental and ophthalmic treatments.
Hospital and community health services complaints decreased by 2% to 13,469 in 2015/16 while family health service complaints decreased by 9% to 6,742.
Special boards/national and support organisations complaints decreased by 2% to 1,245.
The time taken to respond to complaints has remained steady over the past five years, with 69% of hospital community health services complaints dealt with within 20 days, 90% of family health services and 77% of special boards/ national and support organisations.
Ms Robison said: “Scotland’s NHS does a great job in the overwhelming majority of cases but should the care provided not meet the high standards we all rightly expect then health boards must listen, learn and take action where necessary.
“Satisfaction in our health service is increasing but we want to continue to improve.
“Learning from the feedback from patients and families has been pivotal in NHS Scotland’s constant drive to improve its services, and when complaints are made its vital they are taken seriously.”
