On March 19, 2025, Public Defender Levan Ioseliani participated in a joint meeting of the Network of Persons with Disabilities of Georgia, where measures to be implemented to protect and advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities were discussed.

In his speech, the Public Defender of Georgia spoke about the main challenges identified by the Office in the field of the rights of persons with disabilities, the importance of involving persons with disabilities in the decision-making process, problems with compiling statistics on persons with disabilities and their independent participation in elections; He paid special attention to the needs of persons with mental health problems.

The Public Defender emphasized the systemic challenges in the fields of accessiblephysical environment, information and communication, as well as targeted rehabilitation programmes for persons/children with disabilities, and inclusive education.

The Public Defender actively works to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, conducts monitoring and research, and examines individual cases. The Public Defender reflects the problems identified and the recommendations developed for their elimination in annual parliamentary and special reports.

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) Rebecca Hilsenrath KC is visiting Wolverhampton to hear from MPs, NHS staff, charities and advocacy groups about local issues and discuss how people can get justice when things go wrong in public services.    

The Ombudsman looks into complaints about the NHS in England and services provided by the UK Government and its agencies.   

Over the past year, the Ombudsman has highlighted issues around the Windrush Compensation Scheme, mental health care, Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation orders, and communication of changes to women’s State Pensions.   

On Thursday, March 6, Ms Hilsenrath will visit The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust to learn more about the complaints the Trust receives, the way it handles complaints, and how it learns from them to make positive changes. Last year, the Trust won the Patient Experience Network’s Making Complaints Count award for work around learning from complaints about end-of-life care.   

The Ombudsman will also visit the maternity ward to see how staff work on the frontline and hear from patients directly.  

The following day, the Ombudsman will hold a roundtable with two of Wolverhampton’s MPs, Warinder Juss and Sureena Brackenridge, and representatives from organisations including the Department of Work and Pensions, and Healthwatch Wolverhampton who have helped to coordinate the visit.  

There will be workshops for people working in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to help them better support people who use their services to effectively make complaints and seek justice when things go wrong in public services.  

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Rebecca Hilsenrath KC said: 

My colleagues and I are delighted to be in Wolverhampton to hear directly from people working in the NHS and in the local community about their success stories and the challenges they and the people they serve face with public services.  

 

“When things go wrong in public service, it is important that they are put right for the people affected and that there is learning so that it doesn’t happen again. But neither of these things can happen without people speaking up and making a complaint.  

 

“Complaints can highlight previously unknown issues, bring closure for individuals and improve public services for everyone. They are a powerful tool in holding organisations to account and driving meaningful, positive change. We are here in Wolverhampton to learn and share ideas about how we can help people to feel confident about making complaints when things go wrong. This will lead to lasting change for the benefit of all.”  

Stacey Lewis, Service Manager at Healthwatch Wolverhampton, said:

We welcome the PHSO visit to Wolverhampton, and we are pleased to be part of a day of activity to help more people have a stronger voice in their care. It is a timely event as our local Healthwatch is part of a current campaign encouraging people to Share for Better Care.

 

“The PHSO plays a very important role in using feedback to drive improvements in health and care. This opportunity will not only help to educate and empower those supporting residents to effectively make complaints, but it will allow them to see why health and social care services such as our local hospital trust value their feedback.” 

Le Médiateur, Marc BERTRAND, a présenté pour la toute dernière fois le rapport annuel de l'institution devant le Parlement de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles

12-03-2025