Where to Escalate: Provincial Patient Ombudsman Directory
If you have already tried to resolve your issue directly with the hospital’s Patient Relations office and are unsatisfied with the outcome, your next step is to contact your provincial oversight body. These offices are independent and have the authority to investigate complaints and recommend changes to healthcare delivery.
📍 Ontario
- Primary Contact: Patient Ombudsman
- Scope: Public hospitals, long-term care homes, and home care.
- Phone: 416-597-0339 | Toll-free: 1-888-321-0339
- When to Call: After the hospital has completed its internal investigation.
📍 Alberta
- Primary Contact: Alberta Ombudsman
- Scope: Healthcare services provided by Alberta Health Services (AHS).
- Phone: 780-427-2756 (Edmonton) | 403-297-6185 (Calgary)
- Note: You must first complete the AHS Patient Relations resolution process.
📍 British Columbia
- Primary Contact: Patient Care Quality Review Boards
- Scope: Each health authority has its own Review Board.
- Phone: 1-866-952-2448
- Process: Start with your local Health Authority’s Patient Care Quality Office (PCQO) before escalating to the Review Board.
📍 Saskatchewan
- Primary Contact: Saskatchewan Health Authority Quality of Care Coordinators
- Scope: All SHA facilities and services.
- Phone: 1-833-484-2577 (General)
- Secondary: If unresolved, contact the Ombudsman Saskatchewan.
📍 Manitoba
- Primary Contact: Manitoba Ombudsman
- Scope: Provincial government health programs and regional health authorities.
- Phone: 204-982-9130 | Toll-free: 1-800-665-0531
📍 Atlantic Provinces
- New Brunswick: Ombud NB (1-888-465-1100)
- Nova Scotia: Office of the Ombudsman (1-800-670-1111)
- Newfoundland & Labrador: Office of the Citizens’ Representative (1-800-559-0079)
- PEI: Health PEI Patient Experience (902-368-6130)
How to Use This Directory
Most of these offices are “offices of last resort.” This means they will ask: “Have you tried to resolve this with the hospital directly yet?” If the answer is no, please see our Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a Complaint to ensure you have followed the correct initial steps.
Why Post on HospitalComplaints.ca First?
Provincial Ombudsmen investigate individual cases, but they often lack a public-facing real-time database of recurring issues. By posting here, you help us track trends that we can share with health ministers to prove where systemic changes are needed most.