| 释义 |
Health Service Commissioners
(Health Service Ombudsmen) Commissioners who undertake independent investigations into complaints about the National Health Service and (since 1996) also investigate complaints about general practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, and opticians. The Commissioners draw most of their powers from the Health Service Commissioners Act 1993, as amended. Complaints must be made directly to a Commissioner within one year of the date on which the matter first came to the complainant’s notice. Certain matters (e.g. alleged professional negligence) are excluded from investigation. In England the office is held by the Parliamentary Ombudsman. In Wales, from April 2006, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales investigates complaints against the Health Service and other public bodies (Public Service Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005). The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has been exercising similar functions in Scotland since October 2002. |