Adult Mental Health : Powys Teaching Health Board

Mr and Mrs J complained to the Ombudsman that Powys Teaching Health Board (“the Health Board”) had failed to undertake an independent investigation into their son’s care. Mr and Mrs J also said that the Health Board failed to maintain communication in respect of updates and outcomes of reviews.

The Ombudsman found that it was not proportionate to investigate a failure to maintain communication as this was a singular occurrence, with subsequent communication held at a later date. However, the Ombudsman was concerned that the Health Board informed Mr and Mrs J of a review into their son’s care being undertaken on 3 occasions, but it had still not been completed.

The Ombudsman sought and gained the Health Board’s agreement to apologise to Mr and Mrs J for the delay and to complete a review of their son’s care for the period April 2021 to September 2022, within 3 months.