Abraham prescribes move as health service watchdog

The Legal Services Ombudsman (LSO), Ann Abraham, is to take on a new role, it has been announced.

Ms Abraham - who has served as LSO since September 1997 - will take over the dual role of parliamentary commissioner for administration and health service ombudsman from Sir Michael Buckley, who is retiring.

She will be responsible for overseeing independent investigations into complaints about government departments, the National Health Service, and other public bodies.

Ms Abraham told the Gazette that she had found the LSO role 'challenging and fascinating', but had been scheduled to move on in September 2003 when her tenure was up.

'The job was advertised and I applied for it, so it was not so much me wanting to leave here but more about going for a very important public sector job which interests me and which I want to do,' Ms Abraham explained.

The Lord Chancellor's Department will advertise for a successor after the holiday season.

Paula Rohan