Decision report 201100704

Summary
Mr C had a history of skin cancer and suffered from a back condition. He complained that the board failed to: make a full and accurate diagnosis of his back condition, provide him with appropriate treatments including alternative therapies, and explain the prognosis. Mr C also complained that the board failed to provide him with a report containing this information to allow him to claim appropriate benefits. In addition, Mr C complained that the board failed to ensure that there was adequate communication between different departments in the board and medical professionals from other boards on the diagnosis and treatment of his condition.

We did not uphold Mr C's complaints. After looking at the clinical records and taking advice from one of our medical advisers, we found that hospital staff did diagnose Mr C appropriately. They also made recommendations for treatment and made him aware of what his condition was and the outlook for it. Mr C had told us that he asked specific staff for a report for benefit purposes at consultations. The board said Mr C did not ask staff for such reports, and we found no mention of this in the clinical records. In addition, the board said that staff were only required to complete reports sent to them by the relevant benefits agency.

We also found evidence in Mr C's clinical records that hospital staff did communicate adequately and in reasonable time, both within the board and with relevant staff from other health boards, about the diagnosis and treatment of Mr C's condition.