Source · Ombudsman decisions

NIPSO Individual Decisions

457 total decisions 192 investigated 139 upheld 72% upheld of investigated Years: Jul 2000–Mar 2026

457 published decisions from the NI Public Services Ombudsman. The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman investigates complaints about NI government departments, agencies, councils, and public bodies. Source: nipso.org.uk.

Decisions

457 records · Page 4 of 19

GP · NIPSO-lost-translation

Decision 20 March 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Other

This report provides an overview of our assessment of the provision of Interpreting Services in GP practices for patients who are not proficient in English. It is the first in a series of Overview Reports which review issues that are creating potential barriers to accessing …

Southern Health and Social Care Trust · NIPSO-202004555

Decision 18 March 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Upheld

A woman who was 33 weeks pregnant was admitted to Craigavon Area Hospital with severe abdominal pains. Our investigation found that had an emergency caesarean section been carried out it is likely her baby would have survived.

GP · NIPSO-202004023

Decision 10 March 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Upheld

A woman complained that her GP failed to uphold a commitment to monitor her mental health problems. We partially upheld the complaint.

GP · NIPSO-202005152

Decision 10 March 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Not Upheld

A GP Practice provided appropriate care and treatment to a man shortly before his sudden death.

Northern Health and Social Care Trust · NIPSO-202002627

Decision 4 March 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Upheld

The Northern Trust failed to act on a woman’s concerns about her mother’s health. This, as well as its failure to properly assess her spinal injury and accurately read the results of an MRI scan, led to her untimely death.

GP · NIPSO-202005702

Decision 20 February 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Not Upheld

A man complained that shortly before her death his wife’s GP incorrectly diagnosed her with an upper respiratory tract infection. We did not identify any failures in her care and treatment.

Western Health and Social Care Trust · NIPSO-202001626

Decision 29 January 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Upheld

A man said his autistic son’s health deteriorated because the Western Trust did not properly address his needs. Our investigation found that the Trust failed to provide a reasonable level of care and support to both the boy and his family over a 21-year period.

GP · NIPSO-202004496

Decision 20 January 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Upheld

A patient should have been told by her doctor that she did not need to be accompanied by a chaperone during gynaecological treatment.

Primary School · NIPSO-202004565

Decision 20 January 2025EducationOutcome: Upheld

A woman complained about her daughter’s teacher and of the school’s failure to act on her concerns.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust · NIPSO-202005344

Decision 20 January 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Not Upheld

A woman complained that nursing staff failed to meet her late mother’s personal hygiene needs while she was in hospital. She also complained about the Trust’s decision not to carry out a planned kidney operation.

Secondary school · NIPSO-202002913

Decision 20 January 2025EducationOutcome: Upheld

A school should have done more to help a student who was struggling with an 'A-Level' subject.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust · NIPSO-202003738

Decision 20 January 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Upheld

A woman complained about the care provided by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust to her late father in his final weeks. We upheld parts of the complaint.

GP · NIPSO-202003438

Decision 20 January 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Not Upheld

A woman complained that her husband’s GP failed to recognise the seriousness of his condition. We found it managed his care in accordance with good practice.

GP · NIPSO-202004513

Decision 17 January 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Upheld

A GP practice removed a woman from its Patient List following a complaint she made about practice staff.

Western Health and Social Care Trust · NIPSO-202004474

Decision 15 January 2025Health & Social CareOutcome: Not Upheld

A patient complained that the Trust should have changed her waiting list status to ‘urgent’ following a request by her GP. We did not uphold the complaint.

GP · NIPSO-202004461

Decision 2 December 2024Health & Social CareOutcome: Not Upheld

A GP practice was right to tell a patient to go to a hospital Emergency Department rather than refer her to another GP.

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust · NIPSO-202004929

Decision 2 December 2024Health & Social CareOutcome: Not Upheld

A man claimed that prison authorities unfairly denied him treatment for his opioid addiction. We did not uphold the complaint but made observations on the case for the Trust to consider going forward.