Patient Ombudspersons and Social Services Ombudspersons to become public servants under a new Act

The new Finnish Act on Patient Ombudspersons and Social Services Ombudspersons enters into force at the start of 2024. According to the Act, the services of Patient Ombudspersons and Social Services Ombudspersons will be provided exclusively through the public sector in the future.

The new Patient Ombudspersons and Social Services Ombudspersons will operate in connection with public and private health and social services, occupational health care and early childhood education and care, and the provision of their services will be coordinated by the wellbeing services counties and the City of Helsinki. Other organisations that have a legal obligation to contribute to the provision of these services are the HUS Group, the Finnish Government and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

The new Act also lays down provisions on, for example, the duties and independent status of Patient Ombudspersons and Social Services Ombudspersons as well as the responsibilities of service coordinators. 

The new Patient Ombudspersons and Social Services Ombudspersons will be public servants whose job is to safeguard the legal rights of patients, clients of social services and customers of early childhood education and care. The duties of the new Patient Ombudspersons and Social Services Ombudspersons will be largely the same as those of the current patient ombudsmen and social services ombudsmen. 

For more information about the reform, please visit the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. 

Enquiries: Arttu Malava, Legal Officer, +358 (0)29 520 9231