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 26 of 320

Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board · 202001745

Decision 1 December 2022HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about their adult child's (A) treatment in the months prior to their death. A completed suicide soon after they had been assessed by nurses from the Crisis Assessment and Treatment Service (CATS) and Specialist Drug and Alcohol Service (SDAS). C complained that the …

Fife NHS Board · 202000761

Decision 1 December 2022HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about a delay in diagnosing their late partner's (A) oesophageal cancer. The board had already acknowledged that A’s cancer could have been diagnosed sooner and apologised for failing to fully investigate their symptoms. However, C did not consider that the board had provided …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202100828

Decision 1 December 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C was referred by their local health board ophthalmology (the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye) department to the general hospital for specialist eye surgery. C underwent a vitrectomy procedure (the surgical operation of removing the vitreous …

Lothian NHS Board - Acute Division · 202000048

Decision 1 December 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment that their grandparent (A) received at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh (RIE). A was admitted to the RIE following a fall. Following a period of recovery, A was discharged to their home. A was subsequently readmitted to the RIE …

Lothian NHS Board - Acute Division · 202008806

Decision 1 December 2022HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained on behalf of their client (B) about the care and treatment provided to B’s late sibling (A). A had attended the A&E in mental distress, had attended their GP the same day, and had a hospital appointment with the crisis team a few …

Lothian NHS Board - Acute Division · 202000038

Decision 1 December 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C attended the A&E department at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh having suffered a fall and was diagnosed with muscular pain. They re-attended four months later, when a diagnosis of fractured vertebrae was made. C complained to the board that there were failures to fully …

Lothian NHS Board - Acute Division · 201911968

Decision 1 December 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained on behalf of their partner (A) about the care and treatment provided by the board when A had hip replacement surgery. Specifically, C complained about the management of A’s pain in the post-operative period. The board acknowledged the discomfort experienced by A, but …

Grampian NHS Board · 202001722

Decision 1 November 2022HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that the board took too long to offer them steroid/local anaesthetic injections for vulvodynia (chronic pain or discomfort in the vulva). C felt this was dismissive and unsatisfactory. The board said that C did not receive the treatment initially as it was not …

A Medical Practice in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board area · 202103864

Decision 1 November 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that the practice failed to provide their late spouse (A) with appropriate care and treatment. C said that GPs at the practice failed to see their partner at face to face consultations where they could observe their reported symptoms of facial weakness. Phone …

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service · 202002728

Decision 1 November 2022Scottish Government and Devolved AdministrationOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Other

C complained about the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), regarding interactions they had before, during and after a homicide prosecution following the death of their adult child (A). C did not consider that COPFS had adopted a reasonable approach to victim support in …

Clear Business Water · 202101826

Decision 1 November 2022WaterOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Incorrect billing

C operates a restaurant who contracted with Clear Business Water (CBW) for their water supply. C complained that prices charged by CBW increased which was in contrast to what had been agreed. C also complained that CBW unreasonably charged a termination fee when they changed …

Lothian NHS Board - Acute Division · 201907667

Decision 1 November 2022HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their parent (A) by the board. A was admitted to the hospital due to a catheter blockage. On examination, it was determined that A required specialist treatment and an ambulance transfer to another hospital within the …

Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership · 202005809

Decision 1 November 2022Health and Social CareOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / Diagnosis

C complained about various aspects of the care and treatment their spouse (A) received from the partnership. A was an in-patient at a community hospital. Over the course of a few days, A was repeatedly admitted to a larger, specialist hospital for treatment before being …

North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership · 202009025

Decision 1 November 2022Health and Social CareOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Child services and family support

C and their partner (B) complained about the actions of the partnership’s social work department. B’s sibling (A) had been removed from their parents’ care. B and C wished to be considered as carers for A, and also requested contact with A. However, they did …

West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership · 202101174

Decision 1 November 2022Health and Social CareOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / Diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment their parent (A) received from the partnership. A was referred to the partnership’s Rapid Early Assessment Care Team (REACT) for Hospital at Home care due to shortness of breath upon exertion. A’s condition did not improve with treatment …

Business Stream · 202103298

Decision 1 November 2022WaterOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Incorrect billing

C runs a small business and was unhappy with the way Business Stream managed their account. In particular, C was unhappy with what they believe were unreasonable changes to their contract and changes to the amount they were expected to pay for water. We found …

A Medical Practice in the Grampian NHS Board area · 202105940

Decision 1 November 2022HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that the medical practice failed to provide reasonable care and treatment to their spouse (A) after they presented with a lump in their right breast. We took independent advice from a GP. We found that the time taken to refer A to hospital …

A Medical Practice in the Fife NHS Board area · 202111152

Decision 1 November 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained on behalf of their parent (A) for whom they hold power of attorney. C complained that the practice had incorrectly diagnosed and treated A with chronic back pain. C stated that A was later admitted to hospital with a fractured back and pneumonia. …

A Medical Practice in the Borders NHS Board area · 202104829

Decision 1 November 2022HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment their adult child (A) received from the practice. A had undergone surgery to remove infected fluid on the right lung. Gabapentin (an anticonvulsant medication primarily used to treat partial seizures and neuropathic pain) was prescribed to manage nerve …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202101586

Decision 1 November 2022HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Nurses / nursing care

C’s parent (A) lived in a nursing home and had been shielding during the COVD-19 pandemic. A was later admitted to hospital and was placed in a green pathway (a ward for COVID-negative patients) ward in preparation for emergency surgery. Following surgery and a few …

Lothian NHS Board - Acute Division · 202004419

Decision 1 November 2022HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the standard of medical treatment provided to their late spouse (A) by the board following diagnosis and treatment of upper tract urothelial cancer (a type of kidney cancer). A’s condition deteriorated and they died. C complained that clinicians failed to, amongst other …

Student Awards Agency for Scotland · 202111792

Decision 1 November 2022Scottish Government and Devolved AdministrationOutcome: Resolved / Early Resolution

Subject: Handling of application

C complained about the withdrawal of their student award by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). SAAS acknowledged errors in this case, but stated that they had no alternative but to withdraw funding immediately when they became aware of their mistake. We asked SAAS …

Scottish Environment Protection Agency · 202005040

Decision 1 November 2022Scottish Government and Devolved AdministrationOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Policy / administration

C complained on behalf of their clients about a decision made by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) not to renew a ‘Paragraph 19 Exemption’ (the exemption) for a land re-engineering project. Normally, waste management requires a licence, however an exemption can be applied which …

East Lothian Council · 202105316

Decision 1 November 2022Local GovernmentOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Communication / staff attitude / confidentiality

C complained that the council failed to respond reasonably to their enquiries. A planning application was submitted by a business located close to C’s home. C contacted the council’s planning service asking a number of questions in relation to the proposed development. There followed a …

Forth Valley NHS Board · 202007052

Decision 1 November 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment they received from the board having required hip surgery following a fall. Specifically, C was concerned about the type of hip surgery they received, their post-operative care, the arrangements made for their discharge home, and the way in …