Media statements

In August 2022, prompting several investigations which uncovered serious issues around the culture and leadership of University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), the National Ombudsman, Rob Behrens triggered the Emerging Concerns Protocol. The Protocol provides a process for regulators and oversight bodies...

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee has today published its report following our 2021-22 scrutiny session. We are pleased to see recognition of our proactive approach to managing the demand on our service, which included investment in recruitment and...

Ombudsman Rob Behrens comments on the NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board review into University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. “This report will make hard reading for the new leadership and sets the scale of the challenge they face...

Recent and ongoing investigations by the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) into University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) have uncovered a number of significant concerns. Our investigations flagged serious issues around the culture and leadership of the Trust. These concerns have further...

Ombudsman Rob Behrens comments on today's report from the Health and Social Care Committee's expert panel on the progress of the digitalisation of the NHS. "We called for improvements to NHS digital infrastructure to be treated as an urgent issue...

Cancer Research UK has today revealed that if current trends continue, cancer cases will rise from the 384,000 diagnosed each year now, to over half a million by 2040. The report, Cancer in the UK: Overview 2023, was released ahead...

Ombudsman Rob Behrens comments on the report released today by the Healthcare Investigation Safety Branch (HSIB) on access to critical patient safety information. The report highlights a case where a patient was misidentified leading clinicians to think a do not...

Ombudsman Rob Behrens has commented today on the news the Government will drop three of the recommendations from Wendy Williams' lessons-learned review into the Windrush scandal. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has confirmed the Government will now no longer be running...

The Government has published its response to pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Victims Bill. The Bill aims to reduce barriers for justice by removing the requirement that victims of crime must go through an MP to make a complaint about...

Ombudsman Rob Behrens comments on the report released today by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which assesses health care and social care in England. The report found that the health and care system is in gridlock, with long delays and...