NIPSO Individual Decisions
457 published decisions from the NI Public Services Ombudsman (Jul 2000–Mar 2026). The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman investigates complaints about NI government departments, agencies, councils, and public bodies. Source: nipso.org.uk.
457
Total Decisions
192
Investigated
139
Upheld
72%
Upheld (of investigated)
Showing 101 results matching "Belfast Health and Social Care Trust"
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202006445)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
The Belfast Trust should have given a patient an urgent ultrasound scan rather delay the procedure for a week. It should also have told him the scan revealed there was a ‘significant’ chance of him losing his testicle, leaving him in shock when he was told the news by his GP.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202400427)
Health & Social Care
Not Upheld
A consultant was right to explain to a patient that his GP’s referral had been inappropriate and that his care would need to continue at the South Eastern Trust.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202400885)
Health & Social Care
Not Upheld
A patient suffering from a heart condition died shortly after her treatment in Belfast City Hospital. Our investigation found that clinicians followed the correct procedures when they made the decision to discharge her.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202402308)
Health & Social Care
Not Upheld
The Belfast Trust acted appropriately in not recommending oral nutritional supplements to a patient when he lost his appetite.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202004671)
Health & Social Care
Not Upheld
Our investigation did not identify any failings after a woman questioned whether the Belfast Trust missed the true cause of her father’s death.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202400132)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
We looked at whether an alleged failure by the Trust to treat a cyst on a patient's chest led to him developing sepsis. Although we found some failings, we concluded there was no negative impact on his overall care, which was reasonable and in line with relevant standards.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202004459)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
A dental patient’s symptoms may have improved had the Belfast Trust carried out further investigations.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202005575)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
The Belfast Trust should have arranged for an earlier CT scan and carried out emergency bowel surgery when a patient’s condition deteriorated.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202005122)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
The Belfast Trust should have given a new mother better mental health support to help her cope with the premature birth of her twins.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202400242)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
The Belfast Trust did not provide appropriate reassurance to an elderly patient when she suffered pain and discomfort after her coronary angiogram.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202006154)
Health & Social Care
Not Upheld
A woman complained that her IVF treatment failed because the Belfast Trust’s fertility clinic failed to monitor her progesterone levels. Our investigation did not identify any failings.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202006317)
Health & Social Care
Not Upheld
A man complained that an MRI scan carried out by the Belfast Trust failed to identify the cause of his back pain. We did not uphold the complaint.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202002342)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
A man complained about how his late wife was cared for after she suffered a fall. We upheld parts of the complaint.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202002619)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
The Belfast Trust should have adopted a more patient-centred approach when caring for a man with liver cancer.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202001704)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
Error created uncertainty and caused patient upset, but did not impact on the care she received.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202002565)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
A patient’s spinal injury should have been reviewed by a consultant following referral from another Trust.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202005344)
Health & Social Care
Not Upheld
A woman complained that nursing staff failed to meet her late mother’s personal hygiene needs while she was in hospital. She also complained about the Trust’s decision not to carry out a planned kidney operation.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202003738)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
A woman complained about the care provided by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust to her late father in his final weeks. We upheld parts of the complaint.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202004213)
Health & Social Care
Not Upheld
A man complained about the treatment he received for his fractured rib. We did not uphold the complaint.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202004119)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
The Belfast Trust was right to perform an invasive test on an elderly patient but should have given him more information on its risks.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202004428)
Health & Social Care
Not Upheld
Our investigation found that a complainant was offered good support by the Belfast Trust during her treatment for Anorexia Nervosa.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202002531)
Health & Social Care
Not Upheld
A woman complained that the Belfast Trust did not properly investigate the cause of her father’s chest pains. She believed if it had done so he may not have died shortly after being discharged from hospital.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202002511)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
We found the Belfast Trust’s failure to ensure a patient was fit for surgery, and to consider other forms of treatment for his cancer, may have led to his untimely death.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202002379)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
The Belfast Trust told a woman it would not assess her son for ADHD until he was six years old. We found the Trust should have explained its reasons for not doing so more clearly, but acknowledged its timescale was a symptom of the wider demands currently placed on the health service.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (NIPSO-202000972)
Health & Social Care
Upheld
Nursing staff in the Belfast Trust provided appropriate care to a patient before he underwent elective vascular surgery. However, we found it of significant concern that the Trust failed to keep records of a discussion it had with him about the surgery’s risks.
Upheld
139
NIPSO found fault with the organisation complained about.
Not Upheld
53
Complaint investigated but no fault found.
Closed / Other
265
Closed after initial enquiries, resolved early, or withdrawn.
Most complained-about:
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (96), Northern Health and Social Care Trust (48), Western Health and Social Care Trust (44), South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (41), GP (30).
Investigated Decisions Over Time
Excludes 265 closed after initial enquiries. Quarterly, by outcome.
Decisions by Sector
Sectors by Upheld Rate
Which sectors have the highest upheld rate?
| Sector | Decisions | Upheld | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health & Social Care | 336 | 112 | 33% |
| Central Government | 33 | 6 | 18% |
| Local Government | 31 | 9 | 29% |
| Education | 28 | 5 | 18% |
| Housing | 21 | 7 | 33% |
| Health | 2 | 0 | 0% |
Organisation Accountability
Top 20 organisations by upheld rate (minimum 5 investigated decisions). Based on 192 investigated decisions (excludes 265 closed after initial enquiries). Benchmark: 72% average across all investigated decisions. Sparklines show annual decision volumes 2000–2026.
| # | Organisation | Trend | Investigated | Upheld | Not Upheld | Upheld Rate | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Ireland Housing Executive | 7 | 6 | 1 | 86% | +14pp | |
| 2 | Northern Health and Social Care Trust | 30 | 24 | 6 | 80% | +8pp | |
| 3 | Western Health and Social Care Trust | 26 | 20 | 6 | 77% | +5pp | |
| 4 | Southern Health and Social Care Trust | 13 | 10 | 3 | 77% | +5pp | |
| 5 | Belfast Health and Social Care Trust | 44 | 31 | 13 | 70% | -2pp | |
| 6 | South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust | 14 | 9 | 5 | 64% | -8pp | |
| 7 | GP | 23 | 13 | 10 | 57% | -15pp | |
| All-organisation benchmark | 72% | — | |||||