Press releases, briefings and articles
This page lists all our press releases, articles which appear in other media as well as briefings we send out to parliamentarians and other stakeholders.
The press office
We can assist journalists with information on the work of the Ombudsman and other related media queries.
Mistakes happen - failure to put them right quickly and properly can make them considerably worse
20 November 2009
The latest Ombudsman report, Small mistakes, big consequences contains eleven case studies illustrating how the relatively minor mistakes of large government departments can have a major impact on the people they are attempting to serve and on the public purse.
Ombudsman comments on judicial review
15 October 2009
Ann Abraham, the Parliamentary Ombudsman, has commented on the outcome of the application by the Equitable Members' Action Group for judicial review of the Government's response to her report, Equitable Life: a decade of regulatory failure.
Ombudsman welcomes commitment to local resolution
16 July 2009
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Ann Abraham, publishes her Annual Report 2008-09 today. The Annual Report is published alongside a new Strategic Plan for 2009-12, the Corporate Business Plan for 2009-10 and the detailed Resource Accounts for 2008-09. Together these documents offer a comprehensive view of the Office’s role, work and ambitions.
Injustice Unremedied: The Government’s response on Equitable Life
06 May 2009
Ann Abraham, the Parliamentary Ombudsman, has today laid before both Houses of Parliament a further report concerning Equitable Life. This relates to the Government’s response to her July 2008 report, Equitable Life: a decade of regulatory failure.
Simplified health complaints system launched
01 April 2009
On 1st April 2009, the health complaints system in England will be simplified when the Health Service Ombudsman becomes the second and final point of contact for complaints. Anyone who feels that their complaint has not been handled satisfactorily by their local NHS body or practice can now complain directly to the Health Service Ombudsman. The change removes the need to first complain to the Healthcare Commission, and streamlines the process to improve the way complaints are handled. The Health Service Ombudsman, Ann Abraham, has worked with the Department of Health and Healthcare Commission to ensure the transition is as straightforward as possible for complainants and the NHS. The new process has two clear stages from a complainant’s point of view: their case is either resolved locally or can be taken forward to the Ombudsman.
New report from Ombudsman on complaints about the Department for Work and Pensions
31 March 2009
In 2007-08 the Parliamentary Ombudsman received 7,341 complaints about government departments and a range of other public bodies. Of these, 2,574 were about the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The cases included in this digest have been selected because they illustrate the wide variety of complaints and complainants, and the often serious results, when DWP get things wrong.
Ombudsmen’s report calls for urgent review of health and social care for people with learning disabilities
24 March 2009
In a report laid before Parliament on 23 March 2009 Ann Abraham, Health Service Ombudsman and Jerry White, Local Government Ombudsman, called for an urgent review of health and social care for people with learning disabilities.
Ombudsman's Principles launch
10 February 2009
The Health Service Ombudsman, Ann Abraham, launched the Ombudsman’s Principles at the Department of Health’s Making Experience Count Conference in London on Tuesday 20 February.
Ombudsman's reports encourages public bodies to learn from complaints
12 December 2008
Today the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Ann Abraham, publishes her report Improving public service: a matter of principle. This is her second report on how government bodies and the NHS handle complaints, and forms part of an ongoing series of complaint digests. Her first report Remedy in the NHS was published in June 2008.
Ombudsman brings wider public benefit from individual complaints
07 October 2008
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Ann Abraham, publishes her Annual Report 2007/08 today. The Report links lessons learned from individual complaints to the wider public for the benefit of improved services.
