Decision report 201100948

Summary
Mr C complained to the board about the treatment provided to his late partner (Ms C) at a hospital in the board area. Ms C was admitted in early March 2011 and died later that month. Shortly after admission the family were told that Ms C's condition was serious. They were concerned that although in the last year of her life Mrs C had numerous tests and x-rays nobody had noticed that she had two tumours growing in her body. In particular, Mr C wanted to know why an x-ray taken in January 2011 did not ring alarm bells.

Our investigation established, however, that Ms C received appropriate investigations in hospital and that there was no evidence of any delay in her treatment. Our clinical adviser examined the x-ray image which was taken in January 2011 and found that it was appropriately reported as normal.