SPPG/Department of Health

SPPG/Department of Health

I emailed on the 20th of May stating i have exausted all options with the trust as the relevant people are refusing to meet with me. Asked for a meeting with departmental officals.

 

I received an email on 26th of May asking for my consent so they could progress and liaise with the appropriate agencies. I finally thought my concerns were being lisened too.

 

 

 

27th July - Their response

 

Strategic Planning and Performance Group.

 

 

 

Thank you for your correspondence dated 20th May 2026, I note your ongoing dissatisfaction with the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust’s response to the concerns you have raised relating to Governance, Oversight and Accountability arrangements within their Trust.

SPPG had written to you previously on 6th October 2026.

 

 

Firstly I would like to apologise for the delay in responding to you, this was due to officials awaiting an updated response from the Trust as we wanted to ensure that we provide you with all the available and relevant information.

 

 

Within your correspondence to SPPG/DoH on the 25th September 2025 it was outlined that you had made a formal complaint at a LAC review and that you had received no response in relation to this.

 

 

You have correctly asserted that as a service user, you have the right to have your complaints and concerns considered under the Trust’s own complaints procedure, consistent with Health and Social Care (HSC) policy and guidance.

 

 

Officials have contacted the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust to request an update on the issue you raised and their response to same.

I understand that you met with Ms LN, Head of Service – Cared for Children, and Mr ML Assistant Director – Cared for Children, on 24th June 2026. I have been advised that the minutes from this meeting are currently being finalised and will be shared with you during the week ending 17th July 2026.

 

 

I am also aware that your Subject Access Request remains in progress and will be issued to you directly by the Trust’s Information Governance Team once completed.

 

 

As previously advised, the Trust is not in a position to facilitate a meeting with either the Chief Executive or the Director of Finance.

 

 

The Trust advise that the issues you have raised regarding funding have already been fully considered and addressed. Consequently, a meeting with the Director of Finance would not provide any further information or alter the position that has already been explained to you.

 

 

In relation to your request to meet with the Chief Executive, the Trust’s Model Complaints Handling Procedure makes clear that, whilst the Chief Executive has overall responsibility for governance and accountability for complaints, the management and investigation of complaints is routinely delegated to appropriate senior officers. The Chief Executive receives regular assurance regarding the effectiveness and operation of the complaints process.

 

 

As the matters raised have been comprehensively reviewed and addressed by the relevant senior managers, the Trust does not consider that a meeting with the Chief Executive would provide any additional information or contribute further to the resolution of your concerns.

 

Accordingly, the Trust’s position remains that it will not facilitate a meeting with either the Director of Finance or the Chief Executive.

 

As previously advised, the Trust’s review of your complaint has now concluded. If you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to refer your complaint to the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO) within six months of the date of this letter.

 

 

As advised in my previous correspondence in October 2025 It would not be customary for SPPG officials to intervene directly in the carriage of specific complaints as independent advocacy is readily available from PCC and NIPSO.