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Case ref:201102374
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Date:April 2012
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Body:Western Isles NHS Board
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Sector:Health
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Outcome:Not upheld, no recommendations
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Subject:clinical treatment; diagnosis
Summary
Mrs C attended a hospital accident and emergency unit in 2005 with a suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT was not, however, diagnosed and Mrs C was sent home.
In 2011, Mrs C's health deteriorated and an electrocardiogram (a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart) showed that she had a heart abnormality called a left bundle branch block (LBBB).
On reviewing her past medical records Mrs C saw that this was actually diagnosed in 2005 but that no action had been taken. Mrs C is now on numerous medications for angina, heart failure and increased blood pressure. Mrs C complained because she felt that treatment should have been provided in 2005, and that she should have been seen by a heart specialist and had a thorough review of her heart condition.
We found that the finding of LBBB in 2005 was picked up by chance and was unrelated to the matter which was being investigated (which related to pain in Mrs C's leg). Also, at that time, Mrs C was not exhibiting any sign of heart problems.
The guidelines that were in place in 2005 for dealing with patients with cardiac problems have been updated and replaced by new guidelines that include preventative action to reduce the consequence of further cardiac problems for such patients.
We found that the care and treatment provided to Mrs C in 2005 was, therfore, appropriate at the time.