Third Special Report - Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2022–23: Government and PHSO response

This is the government's response, published 23 May 2024.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government states it "remains supportive of the PHSO" but is "not convinced that fundamental reform is a priority at the current time" and would "stop short of mandating" the Complaint Standards.

• On mediation, the Government says NHS England "agrees that mediation can support the resolution of a complaint" and "will work with DHSC and NHS Resolution to encourage the medical profession to engage in mediation".
• On legislative reform of the PHSO, the Government is "not convinced that fundamental reform is a priority at the current time" but is "content to keep this under review" and to look at specific proposals "on a case by case basis".
• It notes that it recently introduced legislation to remove the MP filter for victims of crime and says it "will be important to review the impact of this in the year ahead".
• On the Complaint Standards, it "remains supportive" and says the Cabinet Office should play a role, "assuming that the Standards are shown to be working in practice", but it would "stop short of mandating their use" and prefers to "strongly encourage" take up.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error