16th Report - PHSO Annual Scrutiny 2017/18: Towards a Modern and Effective Ombudsman Service
- HC No.
- HC 1855
- Published
- 25 Mar 2019
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 6 September 2019. Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2017-18
Closed
Opened 10 Sep 2018
Closed 17 Oct 2018
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee is launching its annual scrutiny into the work of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) in the financial year 2017/18. In January it will take evidence from the team that carried out the independent peer review of the PHSO published on 12 November, the Ombudsman Rob Beherns and the PHSO’s Chief Executive Amanda Campbell. The Committee is inviting written submissions by 20 December 2018 on: The conclusions and recommendations of the independent peer review, and the evidence underpinning them. The performance and value for money of the PHSO in 2017/18, including the service provided to complainants. The views of public sector bodies and professionals within the jurisdiction of the PHSO on the PHSO’s dealings with them; and the impact that the PHSO’s findings and other work has on improving the services that bodies in jurisdiction provide to the public. The PHSO’s annual report for 2017/18 is available from its website .
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 10 September 2018.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 16th Report - PHSO Annual Scrutiny 2017/18: Towards a Modern and Effective Ombudsman Service on 25 March 2019.
The government's response
Published 6 September 2019.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government says it will "continue to keep under review" the possibility of a joint committee to scrutinise the draft Public Service Ombudsman Bill, and says it will "consider carefully" the committee's recommendation on own-initiative powers.
- On pre-legislative scrutiny, the Government describes it as "a valuable process" and says it "is committed, wherever possible, to facilitating" it. It makes no commitment to establish a joint committee, only to keep the possibility "under review".
- On own-initiative investigation powers and setting local complaint handling standards, the Government "acknowledges" the peer review panel's evidence and the Committee's recommendation. It "will consider carefully" the case made and its "potential implications for the legislation".
- On complaints handling in the NHS, the Department of Health and Social Care says it is working with the PHSO and others on a good practice framework. It states it "intends to publish the strategy by the end of this year".
Reports
- 16th Report - PHSO Annual Scrutiny 2017/18: Towards a Modern and Effective Ombudsman Service25 March 2019
Evidence
- 2 oral evidence sessionsLatest 22 January 2019
Recent activity
- 15th Special Report - PHSO Annual Scrutiny 2017–18: Government and PHSO Response to the Committee’s Sixteenth Report6 September 2019, Report published
- 16th Report - PHSO Annual Scrutiny 2017/18: Towards a Modern and Effective Ombudsman Service25 March 2019, Report published
- Follow up evidence from Rob Behrens for 22.12.18 PHSO oral evidence session28 February 2019, Correspondence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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Correspondence
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| Published | Direction | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 2019 | Not recorded | Follow up evidence from Rob Behrens for 22.12.18 PHSO oral evidence session |