Information request about PHSO's definition of the term 'investigation'
Thank you for your email of 1 April 2015 in which you requested information in the following terms:
"I request what does the PHSO mean when it informs the UK public that your organisation 'investigates'? What does the PHSO mean when it types/ writes/ verbally refers to its 'investigations'?"
There is no document that further defines the term 'investigate' held by the PHSO. However, I can tell you that the term 'investigate' is taken from the legislation under which the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) operates – the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 and the Health Service Commissioners Act 1993. These Acts do not offer a definition for the term, and as such it should be read within its ordinary meaning.
FOI/DP Officer
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman