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 27 of 320

Perth and Kinross Council · 202007694

Decision 1 October 2022Local GovernmentOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Standard of care

C complained about an incident in which their late parent (A) fell from their wheelchair prior to being assisted into bed by two home carers employed by the council. Following the fall, the carers assisted A from the floor and proceeded with the transfer into …

East Dunbartonshire Council · 202002975

Decision 1 October 2022Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Policy / administration

C complained about the way in which the council discharged a planning condition. C told us that planning permission for a development of new properties located next to a busy road, included a condition which required the installation of a close boarded fence and/or earth …

East Dunbartonshire Council · 201904027

Decision 1 October 2022Local GovernmentOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Policy / administration

C complained about the council’s handling of a planning application. Planning consent was approved for a development that was contrary to the Local Development Plan. Whilst C acknowledged that the Planning Committee were entitled to approve the development, they considered that, in doing so, the …

Water Plus Select Ltd · 201901131

Decision 1 October 2022WaterOutcome: Resolved / Early Resolution

Subject: Complaints handling

C complained to their water provider that they had failed to reasonably bill them for their water services and that they failed to reasonably handle their subsequent complaints on this matter. Since receiving C's complaint, the SPSO have published two public reports about Water Plus. …

Tayside NHS Board · 202001408

Decision 1 October 2022HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment that they received in relation to their mental health from the board over the course of just over a year. C was also concerned about the treatment that they received from a psychiatric consultant including consideration of referring …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202007700

Decision 1 October 2022HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided by the board to their child (A) during a consultation with an orthoptist (specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of eye movement disorders) and optometrist (healthcare professional who provides primary vision care) in relation to the management …

Milnbank Housing Association Ltd · 202103742

Decision 1 October 2022Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Neighbour disputes and anti-social behaviour

C complained that the association did not respond reasonably to reports of anti-social behaviour. We found that there was a lack of consistency in the way that C’s reports of anti-social behaviour were recorded and indications that some incorrect information had been recorded in relation …

Scottish Borders Council · 202003481

Decision 1 October 2022Local GovernmentOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Assessments / self-directed support

C complained that social work failed to reasonably assess A’s needs following a hospital admission, in relation to whether they required 24-hour care, and C’s concerns that social work ignored clinical opinions. We took independent advice from a social worker. We considered that it was …

Highland NHS Board · 202003881

Decision 1 October 2022HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C and their pregnant partner (A) attended a local hospital as A was experiencing abdominal discomfort. A was examined and recommended to attend the main regional hospital, advising C to drive them there. The journey time was approximately 3 hours and on arrival A was …

Fife NHS Board · 202003428

Decision 1 October 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

Following a short psychiatric hospital admission, C presented unwell on several occasions over the course of the next month. C complained that they weren’t sectioned under the Mental Health Act and given appropriate treatment. C’s behaviours at that time had prompted police involvement and the …

Fife NHS Board · 201805543

Decision 1 October 2022HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C’s adult child (A) had spent time in hospital due to abdominal pain, following which complaints had been raised and promises made that action would be taken to prevent any recurrence. A few years later, A spent time in hospital again as a result of …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202101569

Decision 1 October 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that the board did not repeat a test for Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori, bacteria usually found in the stomach) given their symptoms, abnormalities in their blood tests and low ferritin (a blood protein containing iron) levels. C was of the view that had …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202004184

Decision 1 October 2022HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about various aspects of the treatment provided by the board to their late parent (A) who was initially admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary with a fractured hip following a fall. A was subsequently discharged after surgery and received care at home from district …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202002811

Decision 1 October 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained regarding the treatment that they had received from the board in relation to a pharyngeal pouch (a pocket in the lining of the pipe that carries food from the mouth to the stomach). They complained about issues regarding the surgery they had in …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202110356

Decision 1 October 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about treatment they received in relation to an alleged failure to promptly identify and treat developing symptoms of cauda equina syndrome (CES, compression of the nerve roots in the lower back affecting various neurological functions). C was initially admitted to hospital within another …

Fife Council · 202000443

Decision 1 October 2022Local GovernmentOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Child services and family support

C complained on behalf of their client (A). Following an incident at A’s home, A agreed with the council's Child Protection Team that their two children should be placed in the care of a relative. This was a voluntary placement under the Children (Scotland) Act …

Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board · 201909298

Decision 1 October 2022HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment that they received from the board for their right sided hearing loss. They complained that they had been misdiagnosed and wrongly advised that a hearing aid would improve their situation, and that no surgery would help them. C …

Dumfries and Galloway Council · 202100071

Decision 1 October 2022Local GovernmentOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Handling of application (complaints by opponents)

C, a representative of an organisation that provides support to planning application objectors, complained on behalf of an objecting neighbour (A). C raised a number of concerns about the council’s handling of a retrospective planning application. An unauthorised development had been reported to the council’s …

Scottish Prison Service · 202001300

Decision 1 September 2022PrisonsOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Personal property

Ms C provided her express consent for her pronouns to be used for this publication. Ms C complained about matters relating to the SPS failing to give Ms C advice and failing to put in place an appropriate procedure for Ms C to obtain certain …

A Dentist in the Highland NHS Board area · 201900994

Decision 1 September 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / Diagnosis

Following the extraction of a wisdom tooth in hospital, C's follow-up care was undertaken by their family health service dentist. C suffered altered sensation following the tooth extraction. Over the course of eight months, C arranged three consultations with their dentist at which the altered …

Highland NHS Board · 202101651

Decision 1 September 2022HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Adult Social Work Services (Highland NHS Only)

C and B complained about the board's handling of reports of alleged elder abuse in relation to a family member (A). They also complained that the board had failed to handle appropriately a referral made to the District Care Panel (DCP) for residential care for …

Scottish Prison Service · 202006807

Decision 1 September 2022PrisonsOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Policy / administration

C complained about the handing of their Internal Case Management (ICM) case conference. C was unhappy that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) refused to postpone this meeting in light of ongoing appeals/complaints and COVID-19 restrictions, and also that the SPS subsequently failed to review and …

East Renfrewshire Council · 201911240

Decision 1 September 2022Local GovernmentOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Handling of application (complaints by opponents)

C complained about the council's handling of a planning application. C's neighbour was granted planning consent for an outbuilding in their garden. C noted that this space was to be used for commercial activities and complained that the council failed to comply with their own …

Aberdeen City Council · 202004290

Decision 1 September 2022Local GovernmentOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Child services and family support

C complained to the council about various aspects of Social Work Services (SWS) involvement with their children. C complained that SWS failed to invite C to a 72-hour Looked After Child (a looked after child is a child under the care of the council) review. …

Highland NHS Board · 201902230

Decision 1 September 2022HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / Diagnosis

C complained about the treatment that they and their child (A) received from the board. Over the course of nine months, C and A attended a number of appointments with the board's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in respect of difficulties A was …