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The quality of care given to a young person with complex medical needs deteriorated when she turned 18.  

Read our investigation report into a complaint about the Belfast Trust.

Due to the expected disruption caused by the public transport strike, our office will be closed to the public on Friday 1 December.

Our phone lines will be open as normal.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Western Health Trust should have done more to ease a patient's discomfort during an endoscopy procedure.

Read the full report here. 

Due to the expected disruption caused by the public transport strike, our office will be closed to the public on Friday 15 December.

Our phone lines will be open as normal.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Our office is closed from the afternoon of 22 December until Tuesday 2nd January 2024.

If you wish to contact us during this time, please use our online complaints form or send us an email.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Due to the expected disruption caused by the public transport strike, our office will be closed to the public on Friday 22 December.

Our phone lines will be open as normal.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Our office is closed to the public today, but our phone lines are open as normal.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Our Engagement Team meet community groups, charities, other public bodies, and members of the public across Northern Ireland to listen to their issues and to tell them about our service.

If you would like a visit from one of the team, please get in touch!

Our Quarterly Bulletin highlights some of our most recent investigation reports and provides other updates on our work.

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.