A review manager or a senior investigator, who has had no previous involvement in the case, and who is in a more senior position than the original investigator, will review the original decision. All members of the Ombudsman’s Office must act professionally and impartially with complainants and colleagues when conducting a review. Where the most senior person in the Office has already made a decision on the case, the request for a review will not be accepted. In such cases, the review manager will write to you informing you that a review will not proceed. If the review some failing in the Ombudsman’s examination of your complaint, a new case will be opened. If the review does not find any failings with the Ombudsman’s examination of the complaint, the person considering the review will inform you accordingly and explain why. The case will then be closed with no further action. The Ombudsman aims to reach a decision on reviews within 90 days. Future developments In 2016, it was announced that the Minister for Justice and Equality supported the recommendation that prisoners should be able to have their complaints investigated independently by the Ombudsman if they have been unable to resolve them using the internal complaints process of the Irish Prison Service. No commencement date has yet been given for this extension of the Ombudsman’s remit. In March 2017, the Ombudsman and the Medical Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding to allow for the exchange of information and complaints between both offices. Under this agreement, the Medical Council will continue to have legal responsibility for the regulation of doctors, with the Ombudsman responsible for public service providers. The agreement will establish procedures to assist members of the public in accessing the services of both organisations, and enable joint initiatives such as projects and research on improving the quality and safety of patient care.
A review manager or a senior investigator, who has had no previous involvement in the case, and who is in a more senior position than the original investigator, will review the original decision. All members of the Ombudsman’s Office must act professionally and impartially with complainants and colleagues when conducting a review. Where the most senior person in the Office has already made a decision on the case, the request for a review will not be accepted. In such cases, the review manager will write to you informing you that a review will not proceed. If the review some failing in the Ombudsman’s examination of your complaint, a new case will be opened. If the review does not find any failings with the Ombudsman’s examination of the complaint, the person considering the review will inform you accordingly and explain why. The case will then be closed with no further action. The Ombudsman aims to reach a decision on reviews within 90 days. Future developments In 2016, it was announced that the Minister for Justice and Equality supported the recommendation that prisoners should be able to have their complaints investigated independently by the Ombudsman if they have been unable to resolve them using the internal complaints process of the Irish Prison Service. No commencement date has yet been given for this extension of the Ombudsman’s remit. In March 2017, the Ombudsman and the Medical Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding to allow for the exchange of information and complaints between both offices. Under this agreement, the Medical Council will continue to have legal responsibility for the regulation of doctors, with the Ombudsman responsible for public service providers. The agreement will establish procedures to assist members of the public in accessing the services of both organisations, and enable joint initiatives such as projects and research on improving the quality and safety of patient care.
relate_2017_05.docx