Hundreds of complaints against Yorkshire health trusts have been lodged with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, reflecting a national trend of increasing grievances against the NHS. The Ombudsman, which investigates serious injustices within the health system, only steps in after patients have exhausted internal complaints processes. This suggests that only a fraction of complaints reach this level of formal scrutiny.
A concerning rise in complaints against Yorkshire's health trusts has been reported to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman over the past year. This surge in complaints mirrors a national trend, with grievances against the NHS nearly doubling in the last decade. The Ombudsman , acting as a watchdog for serious injustices within the health system, only intervenes after patients have exhausted the trust's internal complaints process.
This suggests that a mere quarter of all complaints reach this level of formal scrutiny. Nationally, 28,780 complaints were lodged with the Ombudsman concerning NHS services in 2023-24, representing a five percent increase compared to the previous year. A significant number (7,352) were resolved following initial investigations, while 840 progressed to comprehensive examinations. The Ombudsman conducted 702 detailed investigations during the year, with 67 percent culminating in either partial or full upholding of the complaint. The information released includes complaints against each Yorkshire health trust within the last year ending in March. The list encompasses a range of trusts, including: Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, Humber NHS Foundation Trust. Rebecca Hilsenrath, Acting Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, emphasized the need for the NHS to learn from its mistakes. She stated, 'Unless the NHS listens and learns when things go wrong, the same mistakes will continue to be made and patients will be put at risk. Instead of a culture of blame or fear, we want to see government departments and the health service welcoming complaints as a source of learning. We believe that this approach lies at the heart of the idea of a government of service which the Government wants to establish.' Dan Wellings, a senior fellow at The King's Fund, echoed these concerns, stating that the rise in complaints signifies a system struggling to effectively address patient issues. He stressed the importance of viewing complaints as opportunities for improvement, urging the NHS to prioritize patient feedback even amidst immense pressure. An NHS spokesperson acknowledged the need for continuous improvement, emphasizing their commitment to providing high-quality care and addressing the rising demand for services. They highlighted initiatives like Martha's Rule, which empowers patients and families to request urgent treatment reviews. The spokesperson reaffirmed the NHS's dedication to collaborating with the government to implement the 10 Year Health Plan and ensure a more responsive and patient-centered healthcare system
HEALTHCARE COMPLAINTS NHS OMBUDSMAN PATIENT CARE YORKSHIRE
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