Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman changes name
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The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has officially changed its name to the Public Service Ombudsman after research suggested that its old name was “confusing for people”.
The new name took effect from 1 October 2026.
The service said the change “makes it clearer who the organisation is, what it does and how it can help people who have not been able to resolve a complaint with a public service”.
It stressed that its purpose and independence remain the same, with the Public Service Ombudsman continuing to carry out independent and impartial investigations of complaints about the NHS, UK Government departments, and other public bodies.
The Public Service Ombudsman, Paula Sussex, said: “This marks an important new chapter for our organisation and our new strategy. Our new name better reflects the breadth of our work and our ambition to be a clear, recognisable and trusted voice for fairness, accountability and learning.
“The changes people will see are focused on our name and visual identity. Our service and the complaints we investigate remain unchanged. Our purpose is to provide a fair and independent service for people who have not been able to resolve a complaint, while using what we learn to help public services prevent harm, strengthen accountability and improve services for everyone.
“I am grateful to the organisations and partners we work with for their time and support in helping us make this change, particularly those updating their information and signposting to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible.”
