Decision Report 201500063

Summary

Miss C's father (Mr A) attended the medical practice on two occasions over a four week period with chest and abdominal problems and breathlessness. He also had a phone consultation with the practice about his condition. Whilst waiting for x-ray results, Mr A died suddenly. His post mortem gave his cause of death as cardiac enlargement (an enlarged heart which may not pump blood effectively, resulting in congestive heart failure).

Miss C complained that the practice failed to provide appropriate care and treatment to her father. She raised a number of concerns including that a nurse practitioner and a GP at the practice failed to carry out appropriate assessments and examinations of her father and provide appropriate treatment.

We obtained independent medical advice on Miss C's complaint from a nursing adviser and a GP adviser. The nursing adviser explained that the nurse practitioner's assessment and examinations of Mr A were reasonable and Mr A was provided with appropriate treatment. The GP adviser said that the GP's assessment, care and management of Mr A were reasonable and in accordance with relevant guidelines. The GP adviser said the details recorded in the consultation together with the examination of Mr A were not significantly suggestive of a heart condition as the primary underlying cause of Mr A's condition. They explained that chest infection was a reasonable diagnosis for the GP to have made based on the symptoms and signs presented to them. Therefore, we did not conclude that the practice failed to provide appropriate care and treatment to Mr A.