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The part about the PHSO is factually incorrect,as of 10.15 on 05.09.2014 in that the PHSO can and do reguarly investigate complaints more than 12 months old as they have discretionary powers to do so where there is good reason as their website makes clear.

A good reason may be unavoidable delays in completing the local complaints process or that the complainant had mental / physical health reasons for not being able to complain within 12 months.

The context of your use of the word 'cases' is a bit confusing in that when making a complaint you have 12 months from the date of the incident about which you want to complaint about or 12 months from when you had a cause to complain. These are not the same things in that you may only find out about say, a botched operation, a month or two later in which case your twelve months would start from the later point.

As explained above if you have a good reason then the PHSO and also the NHS organisation you are complaining to have discretion to investigate over the 12 months.

Appreciate that there is still an arguement to make to extend the mandatory period whereby they have to investigate complaints but they 'can' investigate now if they want to.

I hope that your article will be amended to reflect the true factual situation as per our tweets to you.