Search results
Your search has returned 590 resultsOmbudsman finds practice of charging care home residents without assessing their primary need is ‘unsustainable’
We investigated claims from a family that the Southern Health and Social Care Trust failed to carry out a Continuing Healthcare assessment for their father. We upheld the complaint and concluded that the failings caused the family frustration and distress over a prolonged period.
Trust failed to carry out assessment to see if patient would qualify for care home funding
We recommended that the Northern Health & Social Care Trust, either individually or collectively with others, put in place the necessary arrangements for it to appropriately assess all future requests for Continuing Healthcare.
Investigation finds Trust has no proper assessment tool in place to decide whether patient’s primary need is health or social care
We have asked the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, in consultation with the other Trusts and health and social care organisations, to agree a uniform approach for assessing all future applications for Continuing Healthcare in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman (NIJAO)
Investigating complaints from applicants for judicial appointments
About Us
Information on who we are, how we investigate allegations against councillors, and links to the Code of Conduct and the Commissioner's guidance.
The Code of Conduct
Information on the Northern Ireland Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors (the Code), and the Commissioner's Guidance.
A Patient Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland
Ombudsman Margaret Kelly has called for patients to be given a central role in shaping safety protocols within Northern Ireland's health service.
Speaking yesterday (20 March) at a conference on patient safety, Ms Kelly asked the Department of Health to take the lead in creating a comprehensive framework that empowers patients and fosters a culture of safety and accountability.
With a keynote address from Sir Robert Francis KC (Chair of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust inquiries, 2010 and 2013), the conference brought together a range of voices and expertise to explore potential strategies and approaches to improving patient safety and public trust in our health and social care system.
Ms Kelly stated:
‘Complaints, patient feedback, and raising concerns have proven to be a reliable indicator of safety issues. Patients must be central to any solutions to improve patient safety. Our investigation work highlights a culture that is sometimes defensive rather than open with patients, and which does not always use complaints as an opportunity to learn and prevent future harm. We hope this conference will mark a step towards ensuring that patient perspectives are not only heard but actively incorporated into the fabric of healthcare policies and practices.
A Patient Safety Strategy setting out how our health system is prioritising safety and involving patients in the process would provide reassurance and help build public trust in a health system that is committed to being patient centred.’
A report from the conference will be published in the near future.
Good records management
Public bodies should be transparent. They should record the criteria for decision making and give reasons for their decisions.
This was the message given by Ombudsman Margaret Kelly and Deputy Ombudsman Sean Martin at a recent talk given to an event held in the Public Records Office Northern Ireland.
While people don't generally complain about poor record keeping, explained Ms Kelly, a significant proportion of those cases going to the Ombudsman's Further Investigation stage uncover issues with record keeping. This often can be an indicator of other underlying problems.
Stressing how good records protect everyone, both urged members of staff working in public bodies to record their rationale when making key decisions. This not only helps others within the public body but can act as a 'shield' if those decisions are questioned at some point in the future.
Quarterly Bulletin - March 2024
Our Quarterly Bulletin highlights some of our most recent investigation reports and provides other updates on our work.