The two organisations have signed an MoU to provide evidence to the NHS about areas of safety concern, to prevent future failings in care and to support the safe delivery of services.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) and NHS Resolution have signed a memorandum of understanding to work more collaboratively together.

In a statement, they said that more effective sharing of this information between the two organisations will enable them to provide robust evidence to the NHS about areas of safety concern; to help prevent future failings in care and support the safe delivery of services; and to plan more efficiently for demand on their services.

“This agreement will strengthen the existing partnership between our two organisations,” said Helen Vernon, chief executive of NHS Resolution.

“We have a clear shared focus: sharing the learning from complaints and disputes to improve patient safety across the NHS,” she added.

Their work will also focus on making sure their own services are accessible and is designed, they say, around the needs of the people who use them.

They have said that they will work together more closely to explain to service users the differences between PHSO and NHS Resolution functions, improve mutual understanding between staff in both organisations to support more effective collaboration, strengthen and standardise signposting between the two organisations, and improve communication in cases where both organisations are carrying out an investigation.

“This agreement will strengthen the existing partnership between our two organisations. We have a clear shared focus: sharing the learning from complaints and disputes to improve patient safety across the NHS,” said PHSO’s chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath.