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 21 of 320

A Medical Practice in the Fife NHS Board area · 202105712

Decision 1 August 2023HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their relative (A) by the practice. A attended the practice frequently within a year and was later diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. A died shortly after. C believed that A's concerns were not properly …

Grampian NHS Board · 202008532

Decision 1 August 2023HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C, an advocacy worker, submitted a complaint on behalf of their client (A). A received treatment from the board for muscular dystrophy (a group of inherited genetic conditions that gradually cause muscles to weaken) over a period of four years. While visiting abroad, A received …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202200345

Decision 1 August 2023HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their late partner (A) who was admitted to hospital with hallucinations and delirium. C complained that hospital staff labelled A an alcoholic and that this negatively impacted the treatment that they received. A was treated for …

Dundee City Council · 202103458

Decision 1 August 2023Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Child services and family support

C complained that the council failed to respond appropriately to concerns they raised about their child (A) who had cancer. C was separated from A's other parent (B) and, at the time A became ill, both C and B shared A's care on an equal …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board · 202205600

Decision 1 August 2023HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their late parent (A) by the board's out of hours (OOH) service. A was experiencing worsening symptoms of disorientation, fatigue and abdominal pain. C telephoned NHS 24 and received a call back from an OOH GP …

Tayside NHS Board · 202201207

Decision 1 August 2023HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment they received from the board in relation to an incident of extravasation (the leakage into surrounding tissue of medication administered intravenously) of chemotherapy into their arm. C told us that following the incident, their arm became painful and …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202106485

Decision 1 August 2023HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C's late parent (A) was referred by their GP to the board's ear, nose and throat (ENT) department on urgent suspicion of cancer. A's referral was originally vetted and agreed as urgent. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, significant operational changes were made by the …

A Medical Practice in the Lanarkshire NHS Board area · 202110464

Decision 1 July 2023HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C presented to the medical practice with nausea and weight loss. Following blood tests, a significant drop in haemoglobin levels was noted and anaemia (deficiency of healthy red blood cells in blood) was diagnosed. C complained that they were not referred on to secondary care …

Aberdeenshire Council · 202108990

Decision 1 July 2023Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Child services and family support

C complained that the council failed to provide support to them and their child (A), who had a severe and debilitating mental illness, and that the council unreasonably failed to respond to all of their concerns. We took independent advice from a social work adviser. …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202106371

Decision 1 July 2023HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Hygiene / cleanliness / infection control

C complained that the board failed to provide reasonable care and treatment to their late parent (A), who died following an admission to hospital. This included issues relating to A contracting COVID-19, that the board unreasonably failed to carry out an SAER/independent review, and that …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202108771

Decision 1 July 2023HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained on behalf of their late parent (A) that the board unreasonably failed to diagnose A’s cancer, from which they later died. We took independent advice from a respiratory consultant adviser. We found that clinical management from the respiratory team carried out appropriate investigations. …

Fife Council · 202102318

Decision 1 July 2023Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Primary School

C complained about Fife council's handling of a complaint that they made regarding an incident involving their child (A) at their school. C said that A was a victim of sexual assault and harassment during a playground game in which another child forced A to …

A Medical Practice in the Lanarkshire NHS Board area · 202108773

Decision 1 July 2023HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained on behalf of their late parent (A) who passed away from cancer. C complained that the practice had unreasonably failed to diagnose A’s cancer. A was suspected of having a chest infection and was given multiple courses of antibiotics. A also had a …

Aberdeenshire Council · 202109163

Decision 1 July 2023Local GovernmentOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Secondary School

C’s child (A), was a pupil at a school in the council’s area. C said that A experienced bullying and a sexual assault by another pupil at the school, resulting in changes to A’s behaviour, anxiety and distress to the extent that A could no …

Clackmannanshire Council · 202106700

Decision 1 July 2023Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Policy / administration

C complained about the council’s planning department with respect to a section 75 agreement (a contract that is entered into between a landowner and a planning authority). In particular, C complained that the council had failed to adhere to a clause of the section 75 …

The City of Edinburgh Council · 202111128

Decision 1 July 2023Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Council Tax

C complained about The City of Edinburgh Council’s administration of their council tax account. C complained that the council issued reminders for council tax arrears and threats of legal action when they had paid their council tax in accordance with a payment arrangement. C also …

Western Isles NHS Board · 202104143

Decision 1 July 2023HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Communication / staff attitude / dignity / confidentiality

C engaged with the board’s mental health services and believed that they had received a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD, a mental disorder characterised by the instability in mood, behaviour, and functioning). They complained to the board that they had been prematurely discharged from …

South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership · 202107648

Decision 1 July 2023Health and Social CareOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Assessments / self-directed support

C complained about South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership's handling of supported living arrangements for their adult child (A) with severe learning difficulties and significant support needs. The partnership approved an assessment of A’s needs that included supporting them to move into their own …

South Lanarkshire Council · 202110238

Decision 1 July 2023Local GovernmentOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Repairs and maintenance

C complained about the actions of South Lanarkshire Council in relation to work that they carried out to a property adjoining C’s home. The work related to the change of position of a gas boiler flue. C considered that this has had an adverse effect …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202104299

Decision 1 July 2023HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their late parent (A). A underwent surgery to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). A few days later, A’s condition deteriorated with the cause thought to be sepsis (a life-threatening reaction to an infection). A’s condition worsened …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202108962

Decision 1 July 2023HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C spent time in hospital for their mental health. C complained about how the board had managed their prescriptions and about the lack of treatment for their physical symptoms of migraines and hand/arm injuries. We took independent advice from a consultant psychiatrist adviser. We found …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202112026

Decision 1 July 2023HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Communication / staff attitude / dignity / confidentiality

C complained on behalf of their parent (A) who was in hospital when they passed away. C complained about the hospitals communication with A and their family during their hospital admission. We took independent advice from a nursing adviser. We found that there was evidence …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202111811

Decision 1 July 2023HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained on behalf of their parent (A) that the board did not provide a reasonable standard of nursing care. A was admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and had to be nursed in isolation due to their COVID-19 positive status. We took independent advice from …

Borders NHS Board · 202203211

Decision 1 July 2023HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / Diagnosis

C complained about the actions taken by Borders NHS board in relation to diagnosing their child (A) with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, a condition that affects people's behaviour, including restlessness and impulsiveness). C said that A’s initial referral was rejected and when an assessment did …

A Medical Practice in the Lanarkshire NHS Board area · 202107634

Decision 1 June 2023HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that their sibling (A) had not received appropriate care and treatment from their GP practice in relation to symptoms of an infection. C felt the on-call GP failed to arrange for A to be admitted to hospital and that the practice failed to …