AQW 48254/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 09/06/2026
Answered On Date: 29/06/2026
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of live investigations by the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman that the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust is not responding to.

Answer:

The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust currently has 73 cases open being actively progressed:

53 cases where South Eastern Trust have responded to NIPSO who are considering the information or undertaking further investigation;

20 cases where NIPSO have requested information and South Eastern Trust are actively progressing to provide a response.

In line with the Public Services Ombudsman Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, as a listed authority, the Trust must comply with the requests made by the Ombudsman’s office. If any person obstructs the Ombudsman in the performance of it’s function, the Ombudsman may certify the offence to the High Court. All Trusts have a legal obligation to respond to all NIPSO requests.

Please see below excerpt from the Public Services Ombudsman Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 https://www.nipso.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-06/NIPSO-Act.pdf