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 14 of 320

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202204429

Decision 1 August 2024HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C was diagnosed with a kidney stone by a neighbouring board. Shortly after, they attended Greater Glasgow and Clyde's Urology Department and received an X-ray. C complained that the board failed to identify the kidney stone, resulting in surgery several weeks later and a kidney …

Tayside NHS Board · 202303636

Decision 1 August 2024HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained on behalf of their parent (A) who passed away in hospital. During the admission, A was diagnosed with B cell lymphoma (a type of blood cancer) and received palliative radiotherapy treatment. C complained that A’s pain medication was incorrectly managed as they experienced …

West Lothian Council · 202108359

Decision 1 July 2024Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Kinship care

C, a support and advocacy worker, complained on behalf of their client (A) who had looked after their grandchild since the sudden death of the child’s parent (B). A approached the council for both general and financial assistance. In particular, to support them in obtaining …

Highland NHS Board · 202303356

Decision 1 July 2024HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment that their adult grandchild (A) received from the board. A received regular anti-psychotic medication from the board's mental health service. Separately, A suffered from episodes of paralysis, for which they attended A&E on numerous occasions. A died suddenly …

Tayside NHS Board · 202207499

Decision 1 July 2024HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that the board failed to provide C with appropriate treatment for a shoulder fracture. C was admitted to hospital suffering from alcohol related seizures. It became apparent that C had also suffered a shoulder fracture. C was discharged 12 days later with an …

Highland NHS Board · 202201723

Decision 1 July 2024HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided by the board in the lead up to the delivery of their twin babies. One of the twins (A) was stillborn. C complained that the board failed to provide reasonable care and treatment during C’s pregnancy. We …

Highland NHS Board · 202209212

Decision 1 July 2024HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C, a support and advocacy worker, complained on behalf of their client (B) about the care and treatment provided to B's spouse (A). A experienced urological symptoms including blood in their urine and a number of infections. After a number of investigations, A was diagnosed …

West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership · 202307268

Decision 1 July 2024Health and Social CareOutcome: Resolved / Early Resolution

Subject: Kinship care

C, a support and advocacy worker, complained on behalf of their client (A) regarding the partnership's decision not to backdate kinship care allowance. The partnership confirmed that they had reviewed matters in light of new Scottish Government guidance and would be willing to apologise to …

Tayside NHS Board · 202306916

Decision 1 July 2024HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Nurses / nursing care

C complained about the nursing care provided to their late spouse (A) during their admission to hospital. C raised specific concerns about the personal care and stoma care provided. We took independent advice from a nurse. We found that the personal care provided to A …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202208175

Decision 1 July 2024HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their parent (A). A was admitted to hospital (Hospital 1) following a period of delirium which was a result of a urinary tract infection (UTI). They were treated with antibiotics but their delirium continued. A was …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202106577

Decision 1 July 2024HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment that their late parent (A) received whilst in hospital. A was admitted to hospital with light headedness, dizziness, and pain in the hip and leg. C had concerns about the board’s failure to consider A’s previous medical history, …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202306836

Decision 1 July 2024HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Nurses / nursing care

C complained that the board failed to provide them with reasonable care and treatment. C has a rare demyelination condition (an inflammatory condition that affects the brain and spinal cord) which impacts them both physically and mentally. C is also unable to see clearly and …

Western Isles NHS Board · 202106315

Decision 1 July 2024HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C, an advocacy worker, complained on behalf of the family of A, about a failure to appropriately investigate A’s symptoms, and a consequent delay in diagnosing and treating their cancer. We took independent medical advice from a radiology consultant (specialist in diagnosing and treating disease …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202207990

Decision 1 June 2024HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the ophthalmology treatment (the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye) that they were provided by the board. They were referred by a consultant (Doctor 1) for a second opinion from a corneal specialist. C …

Lothian NHS Board - Acute Division · 202201594

Decision 1 June 2024HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained to the board about various aspects of the board’s care and treatment of their partner (A) and their communication with C and A during an inpatient admission covering the end of A’s pregnancy and the birth of their child (B) by caesarean section. …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202108765

Decision 1 June 2024HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C’s spouse (A) was provisionally diagnosed with torticollis (a condition in which the head becomes persistently turned to one side) by their GP resulting in a routine referral to orthopaedics (specialism in the treatment of diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system). A’s symptoms continued …

North Ayrshire Council · 202004623

Decision 1 June 2024Local GovernmentOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Trading Standards

C complained about the advice received and actions taken by trading standards in relation to concerns that they had reported about a builder who had undertaken work for two of their relatives. C said that the council did not provide them with adequate information regarding …

The City of Edinburgh Council · 202210917

Decision 1 June 2024Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Child protection

C complained that social work did not adequately safeguard their child (A) when they disclosed that they had been a victim of assault. C also complained that they were not informed of the incident. The council considered that appropriate support had been offered to A. …

Aberdeen City Council · 202106027

Decision 1 June 2024Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Handling of application (complaints by opponents)

C complained about the council’s handling of a planning application. C’s next door neighbour made a retrospective application for planning permission for the erection of a garden room/store and timber fencing to the boundary at the rear of the property. This followed an earlier enforcement …

A Medical Pratice in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board area · 202206587

Decision 1 June 2024HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that the practice had prescribed them with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for a period of approximately four months despite knowing that they were trying to conceive. C said that they had subsequently attended a fertility clinic and were advised by a specialist that …

South Ayrshire Council · 202201541

Decision 1 June 2024Local GovernmentOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Adoption / Fostering

C complained on behalf of their relative (A) and A’s child (B) about the health and social care partnership, of which the counil administered the complaint investigation. B was removed from A’s care. Following a short period of kinship care by B’s grandparent, they were …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202207983

Decision 1 June 2024HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C’s spouse (A) presented to A&E with neck pain. A was discharged home as it was noted that they were on a waiting list for an MRI scan, following an urgent referral by their GP to orthopaedics (area involving the musculoskeletal system). A was admitted …

East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership · 202301048

Decision 1 June 2024Health and Social CareOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / Diagnosis

C complained about the health and social care partnership’s (HSCP) investigation of a medicine protocol breach identified at their relatives (A) care home in the week before A's death. A social worker investigated the breach in response to an Adult Support and Protection (ASP) notice …

Lothian NHS Board - Acute Division · 202008353

Decision 1 June 2024HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C was concerned about a number of issues regarding their care and treatment, and that of their child (A), during their pregnancy, A’s birth and afterwards. C raised complaints with the board and were dissatisfied by their response. The board’s response accepted that there had …

Fife Council · 202204206

Decision 1 May 2024Local GovernmentOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Repairs and maintenance

C complained about their housing. C had moved into the property because they were downsizing from their previous home. The property they moved into had been purchased by the council from its owner as part of a ‘buy back’ scheme for council properties. C complained …