PA Weekly News – NHS PPU patients no access to PHSO

ISCAS is featured in this week’s Patients Association Weekly News to raise awareness about the fact that the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman (PHSO), the independent body that investigates complaints about government departments and the NHS in England, is not accessible to private patients. This exclusion to PHSO services extends to private healthcare delivered in the NHS, whether in a ward or a dedicated Private Patient Unit (PPU) – by law the PHSO is unable to look into these complaints. ISCAS continues to follow-up with NHS PPUs – currently a minority of units subscribe to the scheme leaving the majority of NHS PPU patients without recourse to an independent review stage to their complaint.