Case summaries

These short, anonymised stories show the profound impact that failures in public services can have on the lives of individuals and their families.

Please note we have not published any new case summaries on this page since 2015. In April 2021 we began publishing our casework decision statements and investigation reports on our decisions portal.

Advanced filters

Type

Health

Parliamentary

Organisation

Location

Health cases only

Concerns

Results

GP practice missed opportunities to refer patient for cancer investigations

Summary 1015 | July 2015

Mrs C complained about the standard of care her late husband, Mr C, received from the GP Practice. She said it missed several opportunities to detect her husband's kidney cancer at an early and treatable stage. She said witnessing her husband's illness and eventual death caused her considerable distress and worry.

Delay in dealing with complaint about Jobcentre Plus medical examination report

Summary 1014 | September 2015

Mr T complained about the accuracy of a report that was written up on a medical assessment he attended to determine his eligibility for benefits.

Legal Aid Agency gave mixed messages about the process for appealing its funding decisions

Summary 1013 | September 2015

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) caused distress and frustration to someone who was appealing its decision to refuse legal aid.

Failure to keep information confidential led to significant distress

Summary 1012 | September 2015

The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) mishandled personal information it had previously agreed to keep confidential.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority had already offered reasonable compensation

Summary 1011 | September 2015

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) caused a one‑month delay to a case by writing to a medical professional at an incorrect address.

Cafcass apologised for factual errors in its report

Summary 1010 | September 2015

The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) misinterpreted safeguarding information from the police and local authority, leading it to submit inaccurate information to the court.

UKVI's system for accessing phone call recordings failed

Summary 1009 | September 2015

Mr F claimed UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) officers gave him wrong information and misled him during phone calls.

The Legal Aid Agency made mistakes in its consideration of application for legal aid

Summary 1008 | September 2015

Mr S went to court without the benefit of legal aid. He felt that the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) had deliberately delayed considering his legal aid application in order to deny him the right to justice.

UKVI did not give wrong advice but paid compensation for subsequent poor communication

Summary 1007 | September 2015

Mr E, a Polish national, did not get wrong advice from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) about applying for residency. But UKVI's poor communication about his application did cause him stress and frustration.

Allegations of bias in Home Office funding decision

Summary 1006 | September 2015

Mr L complained that the Home Office unfairly denied his company funding for a project to help people from outside the European Union to integrate in the UK.