Ministers plan to merge health, local government and parliamentary ombudsmans

The health, local government and parliamentary ombudsmans are to be merged to streamline the complaints system, the Government has said.

The new public services ombudsman will champion improvements to the handling of complaints, Cabinet Office Minister Chris Skidmore said.

The proposals, contained in a new draft Public Service Ombudsman Bill, will make it simpler for complaints to be lodged, the minister said.

In a written statement he said: “The measures in this draft bill will ensure that anyone who makes a justified complaint can expect a rapid, effective remedy and that their voice will be heard.

“The new body will provide simpler access to individuals who believe they have suffered injustice or hardship and to share the learning from failures to improve services for everyone.”

He said people will be able to make complaints with or without a representative and in a variety of formats to meet the digital age.

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