Decision details
Consideration of powers: Public Services Ombudsman for Wales: Consideration of draft Bill structure
Decision Maker: Finance Committee - Fourth Assembly
Status: Report published
Is Key decision?: Yes
Purpose:
The Finance Committee undertook an inquiry into the Consideration of Powers of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. The role of the Ombudsman was established by the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005. The current Ombudsman has highlighted five main areas for changes to the 2005 Act that he believes will strengthen the role.
The Committee considered these five areas:
- own-initiative powers – this would enable the Ombudsman
to initiate his/her own investigations without having first received a
complaint about an issue;
- oral
complaints - at present, the
Ombudsman can only accept complaints in writing, this would allow the
Ombudsman to accept oral complaints;
- complaints
handling across public services – this would enable the Ombudsman to have
a role in advising on complaints handling across public services;
- the
Ombudsman’s jurisdiction (to
include private health services) – this would extend the Ombudsman’s
jurisdiction to enable him/her to investigate when a patient has received
private healthcare (self-funded, rather than being commissioned by the
NHS) in conjunction with public healthcare; and
- links
with the courts - the removal of
the statutory bar which would allow the Ombudsman to consider a case that
has or had the possibility of recourse to a court, tribunal or other
mechanism for review (this would give complainants the opportunity to
decide which route is most appropriate for them).
Evidence
from the Public
The Committee held a public consultation
to gather evidence on this topic.
Following this inquiry, the Finance Committee undertook a consultation on the draft Public
Services Ombudsman Wales Bill.
Decisions:
6.1
The Committee agreed the draft Bill structure.
6.2
Members also noted the letter to the Chair of Finance Committee from the
Minister for Public Services.
Publication date: 29/07/2015
Date of decision: 15/07/2015
Decided at meeting: 15/07/2015 - Finance Committee - Fourth Assembly
Accompanying Documents: