Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman - 'How can we help you?'

Summary

Organisations should make sure people know the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is the final stage for complaints that haven’t been resolved through the organisation’s own complaints process. This applies to small NHS organisations like GP and dental practices as well as larger ones like hospitals or government departments.

It’s important that people complain to the provider organisation first and give them a chance to respond to their concerns, before they come to the PHSO. But if someone isn’t happy with how the provider organisation has answered their complaint, they need to know they have a right to come to the PHSO with it.

Here are some tips to help providers make sure people know when and how to use the PHSO service.