As ombudsman organisations from across the globe gather in Manchester this week, the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) has ‘strongly endorsed’ support for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) to have access to ‘safe space’.

Proposed new UK Government legislation in the form of the Health and Care Bill will exclude PHSO from access to ‘safe space’ information collected from NHS organisations by the Health Service Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB).

In October, the Venice Commission – an advisory body of the Council of Europe, of which the UK remains a member - reviewed the proposals in the Bill and found this would negatively impact on PHSO’s ability to investigate some complaints. It could also have a significant impact on patients and families who complain to PHSO and on people who use the NHS. 

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