Source · Ombudsman decisions

SPSO Individual Decisions

7,997 total decisions 7,769 investigated 2,239 upheld 54% upheld of investigated Years: Jun 2011–Sep 2026

7,997 published decisions from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman investigates complaints about public services in Scotland — councils, the NHS, housing associations, and Scottish Government agencies. Source: spso.org.uk.

Decisions

7,997 records · Page 10 of 320

Forth Valley NHS Board · 202210585

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that the advice and treatment provided by the board following their positive COVID-19 test was unreasonable. C was a kidney transplant patient who tested positive for COVID-19 in early 2022. C said that they had contacted the renal unit who referred them on …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202304148

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their late parent (A). A was admitted to hospital and received treatment for a chest infection and pleural effusion (a build-up of fluid in the chest). A remained in the hospital awaiting discharge arrangements. During a …

Grampian NHS Board · 202303631

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their parent (A) during two admissions to hospital. Both admissions were due to concerns about A's lungs. A was admitted to hospital for a third time and was diagnosed with empyema (pockets of pus) in their …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202307773

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C’s elderly spouse (A) spent approximately ten weeks in hospital. While in hospital, A fell on two occasions. C complained about the medical, nursing and physiotherapy care and treatment provided by the board. We took independent advice from a consultant geriatrician (specialist in medicine of …

Lothian NHS Board · 202304800

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that the board failed to provide reasonable personal care and treatment to their sibling (A). A was admitted to hospital to initiate and titrate Clozapine (an antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders). A had a history of diabetes and …

Aberdeen City Council · 202401558

Decision 1 March 2025Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Policy / administration

C complained about the council’s handling of communal repairs at a tenement in which C owned a property. Extensive work was required following a fire. The council owned the majority of properties in the building and took the lead in arranging and managing the work. …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202304348

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their spouse (A). A had a history or recurring urinary tract infections (UTI's) and was self-catheterising. The board gave A an indwelling (long-term) catheter to be changed every three months. Over the next several months, A …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202209336

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Admission / discharge / transfer procedures

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their adult child (A). A had addiction issues and was admitted to intensive care with a head injury after a fall. They were later transferred to a different hospital and onto a ward after their condition …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202305722

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C is a kidney transplant patient who was suffering from COVID-19 when they were admitted to hospital. C’s COVID-19 worsened and C developed blood clots in their lungs. C was treated with anti-coagulant medication. However, over time C developed a haematoma (a collection of blood) …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202402369

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that the board failed to reasonably communicate with their family when their parent (A) was admitted to hospital. A was taken to A&E following a fall at home. A was moved to a ward following an x-ray and medical review showing that A …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202310085

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their spouse (A) when they attended A&E. A had fallen from a height and injured their shoulder. A was x-rayed and diagnosed with a soft tissue injury to the shoulder and a minor head injury. A …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202300133

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that their late partner (A)’s discharge from hospital was unreasonable. A was admitted to hospital with pneumonia and was discharged after ten days. Less than two weeks after discharge, A collapsed and was readmitted to hospital. A died a few days later. C …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202310183

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the standard of care provided by the board to their parent (A). A had a complex medical history including depression for which they were on three types of anti-depressants. This was noted when A was admitted to hospital but staff failed to …

Forth Valley NHS Board · 202307398

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their parent (A). A was assessed by a junior doctor in A&E who ordered various tests and investigations. A was later moved to the acute assessment unit and diagnosed with a perforated bowel. A underwent emergency …

Grampian NHS Board · 202309997

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their parent (A) during an admission to hospital. C complained that the board had failed to manage placement of a nasogastric tube (NG) correctly and did not act timeously on signs of a complication. C said …

A Medical Practice in the Fife NHS Board area · 202302639

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C suffered with lower back and right hip pain. C complained about the care and treatment provided by the practice in relation to their diagnosis of Hip Osteoarthritis. C said that despite raising concerns with the practice, they failed to take appropriate action to ensure …

Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board · 202308046

Decision 1 March 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their late spouse (A). C complained that A had an infected toe which remained unresolved despite undergoing several months of treatment. A was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer but was unable to start chemotherapy treatment because of …

Tayside NHS Board · 202304652

Decision 1 February 2025HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about their experience of labour and post-birth care. C felt that they had been left too long without assessment and without medical review. C also complained about the actions of a specific doctor, who attempted manual removal of their placenta post birth. C …

Forth Valley NHS Board · 202302720

Decision 1 February 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Admission / discharge / transfer procedures

C complained about their attendance at the A&E after their child (A) had a seizure. C said that A’s observations (to measure vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature) had not been taken, but that the nurse had told C that they were. …

Grampian NHS Board · 202302813

Decision 1 February 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Complaints handling

C complained about the process followed by the board in commissioning and completing a Level 1 Significant Adverse Event Review (SAER) with respect to the care provided to their partner (A), after they had been diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus (a condition where some of the …

A Medical Practice in the Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board area · 202305621

Decision 1 February 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the treatment that their sibling (A) received from the practice. In responding to C, the practice accepted that a diagnosis had been missed. The practice also conducted a Significant Event Analysis (SEA) which resulted in learning around consideration of A’s symptoms and …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202210701

Decision 1 February 2025HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C’s parent (A) was admitted to the hospital's A&E three days after a fall. A had a complex medical history including chronic pain. On admission, A reported lower right-sided chest pain, associated with gradually increasing shortness of breath. A chest X-ray showed no evidence of …

A GP Practice in the Highland NHS Board area · 202302088

Decision 1 January 2025HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their parent (A) by the practice. A was described as fit and well but had developed severe diarrhoea. Although the diarrhoea subsided, A continued to feel unwell and breathless. A was seen by an advanced nurse …

A GP Practice in the Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board area · 202305141

Decision 1 January 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained on behalf of their elderly parent (A). A had a known history of high blood pressure and white coat syndrome (when a patient’s blood pressure rises in response to a stressful situation, such as, a doctor’s appointment or visit to the hospital). A …

Tayside NHS Board · 202203015

Decision 1 January 2025HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment that their spouse (A) received during two admissions to hospital. C complained that the board had failed to provide A with adequate personal care during both admissions and failed to adequately manage their medication during their first admission. …