Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Mrs A complained that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board had failed to provide a complaint respond to a complaint her husband, Mr A, had submitted in respect of the care and treatment his father, Mr B, had received from the Health Board.

The Ombudsman decided that the Health Board had enquired whether Mr A held Lasting Power of Attorney for Mr B, as Mr B was subject to a Deprivation of Liberty order, but it had not sent a formal response outlining the reasons why it considered Mr A was not a suitable person to raise the complaint. She decided to settle the complaint without an investigation.

The Ombudsman sought and gained the Health Board’s agreement, that within 1 month, it would send Mr A a formal response, explaining its reasoning.