Ombudsman’s report - HSE is hurt by corporate omerta
However, anger being a far more provocative force than relief, more than a quarter of the 2,873 complaints filed with the ombudsman in 2009 relate to health services. Some described situations which Ms O’Reilly characterised as “shocking and unacceptable”.
Her office dealt primarily with complaints on treatment or fees but she took the opportunity to criticise on the culture of secrecy and self-preservation that remains the organisation’s default position. She accused the executive of being “riddled with excessive secrecy” and said it seeks to protect its interests rather than serve the public interest by being transparent.