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 6 of 320

Tayside NHS Board · 202301846

Decision 1 September 2025HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the treatment provided to their late parent (A) when they attended hospital with shortness of breath and abdominal distension (swelling). Following assessment, A was prescribed a blood-thinning medication and was discharged with a plan to return for a scan within 48 hours …

Grampian NHS Board · 202402498

Decision 1 September 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Appointments / Admissions (delay / cancellation / waiting lists)

C complained that the board failed to carry out their sibling (A)'s hip replacement surgery within a reasonable time. C said that A had made no progress with their surgery since their pre-assessment appointment. We took independent advice from a consultant orthopaedic surgeon (specialist in …

Forth Valley NHS Board · 202303554

Decision 1 September 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that the board unreasonably failed to provide appropriate care and treatment to their late parent (A). A attended A&E with an injured arm after a fall at home. A was treated and sent home but was admitted to hospital a few days later …

Fife NHS Board · 202305480

Decision 1 September 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Nurses / nursing care

C complained about the nursing care provided to their late parent (A) whilst in hospital. They complained about a lack of adherence to infection control, poor staff attitude and breaches of uniform policy. C also complained that A had been issued a zimmer frame without …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202304314

Decision 1 September 2025HealthOutcome: 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 late family member (A) during their admission to hospital. In particular, in relation to pain management, standard of care and communication. In response to …

Fife NHS Board · 202404687

Decision 1 September 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided by the board in relation to excision of a right sided neck lesion. C had been undergoing monitoring for a neck swelling thought to be a benign tumour. After a number of years of monitoring, C reported …

A Medical Practice in the Tayside NHS Board area · 202409557

Decision 1 September 2025HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that the practice failed to provide them with reasonable care and treatment. C attended the practice with symptoms of an ear infection. C said that they were not prescribed appropriate medication and were unreasonably diagnosed with an outer ear infection. C felt that …

Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board · 202404622

Decision 1 September 2025HealthOutcome: Partly Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment the board provided to their late spouse (A). A had a history of heart failure and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD, a severely weakened function in heart pumping) as well as other chronic health conditions. C complained …

Highland NHS Board · 202307598

Decision 1 September 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained on behalf of a family member (A) about the care and treatment that A received during two presentations to hospital following a fall at their home. Prior to their fall, A was fit and well and independent for activities of daily living. During …

A Medical Practice in the Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board area · 202309539

Decision 1 September 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the standard of medical care and treatment provided by the practice and about the way that they handled C's complaint. C attended the practice with symptoms of rectal bleeding, a change in bowel habit and abdominal pain. The practice made a routine …

Borders NHS Board · 202402836

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Resolved / Early Resolution

Subject: Nurses / nursing care

C complained about the lack of care and understanding for their parent (A) who died in hospital. C referred to incorrect information being passed to the family and the lack of notes and records of events which occurred during A's admission. C said that while …

Scottish Ambulance Service · 202304529

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Failure to send ambulance / delay in sending ambulance

C complained that the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) unreasonably delayed in dispatching an ambulance for their late parent (A) and, as a result, this had an adverse impact on A’s care and treatment. C questioned why an SAS call handler initially advised them that an …

Forth Valley NHS Board · 202400331

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to them in relation to their health in prison. C experienced difficulties in relation to their medical needs, including staff not attending when C requested, not receiving their medication, lack of communication and that the complaint response …

A Medical Practice in the Lanarkshire NHS Board area · 202408314

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their late parent (A) by a GP Practice when A was a resident in a care home. Care home staff had reported that A was agitated and unsettled, possibly in pain and with poor sleep at …

A Medical Practice in the Lanarkshire NHS Board area · 202408315

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their late parent (A) by a GP Practice. Following a road traffic accident, A was found to be in atrial fibrillation (a type of heart rhythm where the heartbeat is not steady). The hospital asked the …

Lanarkshire NHS Board · 202202757

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the board’s assessment of their parent (A) and the decision not to admit A to hospital for further assessment and treatment. C felt that the board inappropriately relied on information provided on behalf of A, rather than speaking with A directly, and …

University of St Andrews · 202409674

Decision 1 August 2025EducationOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Policy / administration

C, an EU student with disabilities, began an MSc at the University of St Andrews. A few weeks later, their symptoms worsened, leading to an inability to continue studies. The university issued a Termination of Studies notice, which C successfully appealed with medical evidence. The …

Forth Valley NHS Board · 202406679

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the care and treatment that they received from the board. In particular, C complained that the board had failed to recognise or timeously act on the significance of the severity of their pain and abdominal symptoms. C later received emergency surgery in …

Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board · 202308943

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained that nursing staff had failed to properly supervise their parent (A) resulting in a fall and that there was a lack of documented information about A's plan of care in the medical records. A was admitted to hospital for hip surgery following a …

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board - Acute Services Division · 202311619

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Appointments / Admissions (delay / cancellation / waiting lists)

C complained about the lack of care and treatment that the board provided in relation to not being recalled for a colonoscopy. C had undergone regular colonoscopies to monitor disease progression. C was not recalled when the next colonoscopy was due. The COVID-19 pandemic led …

Orkney NHS Board · 202410121

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C, a Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) adviser, complained on behalf of their client (B) about the care and treatment provided to B's late spouse (A). A was under the care of two health boards for treatment of a concurrent bladder and colorectal cancer. …

Forth Valley NHS Board · 202309879

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Nurses / nursing care

C’s spouse (A) who had prostate cancer was admitted to the Clinical assessment unit (CAU) of the hospital following a few days of deteriorating health. During their admission, A remained in the CAU for three days before leaving the building without staff being aware of …

Grampian NHS Board · 202305315

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C, a Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) adviser, complained on behalf of their client (B) about the care and treatment provided to B's late spouse (A). A was under the care of two health boards for treatment of a concurrent bladder and colorectal cancer. …

Tayside NHS Board · 202310542

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Not Upheld

Subject: Clinical treatment / diagnosis

C complained about the treatment provided to their partner (A) when they were admitted to hospital. A presented to the A&E after they woke up feeling generally unwell. A experienced weakness, lost vision, and pins and needles in their hands and feet. When assessed in …

Highland NHS Board · 202404349

Decision 1 August 2025HealthOutcome: Upheld

Subject: Nurses / nursing care

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their late parent (A). A was admitted to hospital due to a nose bleed that would not stop. During admission, A used a hospital trolley to cross the ward to the toilet. A jug of water …