Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about care in a nursing home in 2018. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The complaint has been made late and there are no good reasons to investigate.

The complaint

1. In summary, Ms X complains about various care failings at a nursing home that admitted her relative in 2018. She says her relative was admitted to hospital several times arising from the poor care.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We do not start an investigation if we decide the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
3. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The complaint lies outside our jurisdiction and there are no good reasons to justify investigating.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman