Information request about who provides the financial resources for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to operate, and why the Ombudsman service was formed
Firstly, you asked 'who provides the financial resources for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to operate?'
Sections 2 and 3 of, and Schedule 1 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 and section 1 of, and Schedule 1 to the Health Service Commissioners Act 1993 govern the Ombudsman's salary and the funding of her office.
Those provisions specify that Dame Julie Mellor's salary and pension are paid for out of the Consolidated Fund and that the funding for her office is paid for out of funds, approved by HM Treasury, provided by Parliament. More information about our funding and accounts can be found in our latest annual report (page 54).
Secondly, you asked 'why does the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman exist?'
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman exists to investigate complaints about government departments, other selected public organisations in the UK and the NHS in England. Our work provides individual remedies for people and drives improvements in public services. There is more information about our work on our website and in our latest annual report.
Finally, you asked 'how many requests for a review we received between 31 October 2014 and 31 December 2014 and how many of those reviews were upheld?'
Between 31 October 2014 and 31 December 2014 we received 133 review requests. 124 of those reviews have been completed. Of those completed reviews, 24 have been upheld (14 fully and 10 partially). I should also explain that on 5 December 2014 we changed our review process and introduced a Customer Care Team. The introduction of the Customer Care Team has led to us resolving cases in a more customer-focused manner without the need for a formal review. As a result, the number of cases which needed a formal review declined after 4 December 2014.
I hope the information is helpful.
FOI/DP Officer
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman