Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) Rob Behrens is in Stockton-on-Tees from Monday 20 to Tuesday 21 March for the first of a series of regional roadshows around the country to directly hear about issues facing members of the local community.

PHSO makes final decisions on complaints from members of the public who are not satisfied with the service they have received from the NHS in England or the UK Government and its agencies.

The Ombudsman deals with a variety of complaints from child maintenance payments, driving licences and immigration issues, to failings within the NHS such as delayed treatments, misdiagnoses, and avoidable deaths.

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Rob Behrens said:

“When things go wrong in public services, people must be able to hold the NHS, the Government and its agencies to account so that standards improve. The Ombudsman plays an important role in helping the public get justice.

“Not everyone feels comfortable complaining or knows who to turn to for help, but we are here to listen and learn. I’m delighted to be in Stockton for our first roadshow to hear about issues facing members of the local community.

“We want to encourage people who have had a bad experience to make a complaint. By sharing their story, they can help improve public services for everyone and help stop mistakes from happening again.” 

While in Stockton, the Ombudsman will visit different sectors of the local 

community to meet people and explain his role in helping them get justice when things go wrong in public services.

PHSO will hold a free advice clinic for members of the public on Tuesday 21 March at Citizens Advice. The Ombudsman's caseworkers will be on hand to help anyone who has had issues when using a public service or the NHS. They'll talk through the process for complaints and the options available to people who want to complain.

The Ombudsman will also visit Tennant Street Medical Centre to hear about their experience of using the NHS Complaints Standards that have been trialled there. The Complaints Standards support organisations to provide a quicker, simpler and more streamlined complaint handling service for the benefit of the public.

The Ombudsman will also visit Stockton Riverside College to talk to students about his role, issues facing complainants and answer questions about life in public service.

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