La Diputada del Común, Lola Padrón, mantuvo este martes su primer encuentro oficial con el Presidente del Gobierno de Canarias, Fernando Clavijo, y la Consejera de Servicios Sociales, Candelaria Delgado, tras su toma de posesión en mayo de este año. Esta reunión se enmarca en una serie de visitas de cortesía que la Diputada ha iniciado con diversas instituciones, centradas en abordar las principales preocupaciones de la ciudadanía canaria.

Durante la reunión, se discutieron temas prioritarios como el acceso a la vivienda, la dependencia y la migración, con un enfoque especial en los derechos de la ciudadanía y la respuesta administrativa. Lola Padrón solicitó una revisión de los topes de precios para las ayudas al acceso a la vivienda, especialmente para la población joven, así como una mayor coordinación entre Visocan y el Instituto Canario de la Vivienda.

Asimismo, la Diputada del Común trasladó la necesidad de revisar el cobro de la contribución a las viviendas sociales, particularmente en casos donde los residentes reciben ayudas o pensiones mínimas. Padrón subrayó que el acceso a la vivienda es la principal preocupación para los canarios, aunque también destacó las listas de espera en dependencia y el aumento de quejas relacionadas con discapacidad.

Finalmente, ambas partes acordaron profundizar en estos temas con el objetivo de garantizar que los ciudadanos reciban las prestaciones que les corresponden, evitando así la vulneración de sus derechos. La Diputada abogó por una modernización de los servicios públicos para mejorar la agilidad y eficacia de la respuesta administrativa, subrayando que la administración no puede convertirse en un parapeto y debe adaptarse a las demandas ciudadanas.

In a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, complaints were made against the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection for failing to inform a party of how to appeal a decision not to investigate a complaint further. At the time, the Supreme Administrative Court had granted leave to appeal regarding the question of whether such a decision is appealable. According to the Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman, the Authority for Privacy Protection should therefore have given notice of how to appeal the decision in question. The Authority for Privacy Protection is criticised for not doing so.

The Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman emphasises the importance of a decision-making authority providing information on how to appeal a decision every time there are doubts as to its appealability.

On September 3-5, 2024, Public Defender of Georgia Levan Ioseliani and First Deputy Public Defender Tamar Gvaramadze will hold working meetings in Washington with the leaders of the US Department of State, the International Republican Institute of Eurasia, and the Bureau of European and EurasianAffairs. Meetings are also scheduled with representatives of the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

Patient Partnership Week (2nd – 6th September) is an initiative created by the Patients Association to improve healthcare through better patient engagement. 

There is a focus during the week on shared decision making in healthcare.  Shared decision means involving patients and their families in decisions about their clinical care. 

Not only do health professional codes of conduct state that patients should be told of any risks with recommended treatment, it is also a legal requirement. 

Shared decision making enhances both quality of care and fosters more compassionate, effective healthcare. It is also vital for patient safety, because by listening to and working with patients a service is more likely to understand and meet their needs and be responsive when safety problems arise.

At the Public Services Ombudsman for Northern Ireland we receive complaints from patients (predominantly in a hospital setting) that they would have liked greater involvement in their care.  While our investigations may find that health care staff treated patients appropriately, we also find occasions in which staff have not involved and listened to patients and their families.  

You can read more about these cases here.