Palvelemme kesäaikana osittain poikkeuksellisin aukioloajoin.

Tarkista kesän poikkeusajat ja korvaavat palvelut täältä.
Henkilö pitää käsissään punaisin sydämin koristeltua kulhoa

Patient ombudsperson and social ombudsperson

You can contact the patient and social ombudspersons of your wellbeing services county if you are dissatisfied with the care, service or treatment you receive in public or private social welfare and healthcare services. Guidance from patient and social ombudspersons is confidential, impartial and free of charge. Patient and social ombudspersons do not provide services, arrange access to treatment or make decisions. Their activities are based on the Act on Patient Ombudspersons and Social Ombudspersons (739/2023).

In Finnish: Potilasasiavastaava ja sosiaaliasiavastaava

Patient ombudspersons

In matters related to the rights of patients of the Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland, assistance is available from Patient Ombudspersons Tuija Noronen and Päivi Puoliväli. Tuija Noronen is the person with overall responsibility for patient ombudsperson activities.

You can contact a patient ombudsperson on tel. 014 269 2600

  • Mondays and Tuesdays 11:00–15:00
  • Thursdays and Fridays 08:00–12:00

At other times, a telephone answering machine service is used, where you can leave a call-back request and your telephone number, and someone will contact you. Meetings are always agreed upon separately.

Email address: potilasasiavastaava(at)hyvaks.fi

Social ombudsperson

The social ombudsperson guidance service covers public and private social welfare services, as well as early childhood education and care, but not services provided by Kela, employment services, financial and debt counselling, or trusteeship services. The social ombudsperson and person responsible for operations is Eija Hiekka.

You can contact the social ombudsperson on tel. 044 265 1080

Monday–Thursday 9:00–11:00.

At other times, you may leave a call-back request on the answering machine service. Meetings are arranged in advance.

Non-secure e-mail for contact requests: sosiaaliasiavastaava@hyvaks.fi.
Secure e-mail for e-services: turvaposti.hyvaks.fi - Sosiaaliasiavastaava.

Patient ombudspersons

Patient ombudspersons

  • instruct patients to talk to the unit or professional concerned as soon as an issue arises
  • advise on filing a complaint or a notice of injury where necessary, and advise and, if necessary, assist with filing an objection in accordance with the Act on the Status and Rights of Patients
  • work within the wellbeing services county to promote and realise the rights of the patient
  • disseminate information in matters related to the status and rights of patients in accordance with the Act on the Status and Rights of Patients.

Patient ombudspersons do not take a stance on medical treatment decisions or the realisation of treatment, nor do they interpret the contents of patient records or take a stance on any suspicions of patient injury.

The Act on the Status and Rights of Patients, 785/1992, is applicable in Finland. The act applies to all healthcare services and healthcare services provided in social welfare institutions.

According to Section 10 of the act, "A patient who is not satisfied with the health care or medical care and the related treatment received by them has the right to submit an objection on the matter to the director responsible for health care in the health care unit in question. A decision on the objection has to be given in a reasonable time from the submitting it. Submitting an objection does not restrict the right of a patient to appeal to the authorities controlling healthcare or medical care about the care or related treatment received by them." An objection should always be filed before filing a complaint.

Any written objection to the activities of the Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland shall be processed by the director of the service unit in question. An objection may be filed using the dedicated form. Forms are also available from healthcare units.

If you decide to file a written objection, please ensure you fill in the objection form in clear handwriting. You can fill out the form on the website of the Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland and print it out to send it in or send it following the instructions for secure email using strong identification. Objections are always responded to in writing.

Social ombudsperson

Social ombudsperson

  • provides guidance on the status and rights of social welfare and early childhood education and care clients
  • provides guidance on and, if necessary, assists with filing an objection
  • provides counselling on how to initiate a complaint, request for rectification, appeal, claim for damages, or another issue pertaining to legal rights in social welfare services or early childhood education and care with the competent authority
  • collects information on client contacts and monitoring the development of the clients' rights and status
  • disseminates information about the rights of clients as well as other measures to promote and realise clients' rights.

According to the Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients (812/2000), a client has the right:

  • To receive high-quality social welfare services and be treated well. Activities must respect your dignity, beliefs, and privacy. Your wishes, opinions, interests and individual needs, as well as your native language and cultural background must be taken into account when realising social welfare services.
  • To a collaboratively compiled service, care, rehabilitation or other similar client plan, unless the matter is one of temporary advice and guidance or a plan is otherwise unnecessary.
  • To a decision made by an authority or, when organising private social welfare care, a written agreement between the social welfare provider and the client. Decisions relating to social welfare services must always be accompanied by instructions for appeal.
  • To submit an objection regarding service or treatment you found to be inadequate.