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Decision Report 201505763

  • Case ref:
    201505763
  • Date:
    May 2016
  • Body:
    A Medical Practice in the Lothian NHS Board area
  • Sector:
    Health
  • Outcome:
    Not upheld, no recommendations
  • Subject:
    clinical treatment / diagnosis

Summary

Mr C complained to us that the medical practice failed to provide him with appropriate clinical treatment when he turned up for a consultation and was in need of medical attention. He was also told that he had been removed from the practice list of patients and he complained that they did not provide an explanation for this.

The practice explained that when Mr C attended the practice there was no indication that he required medical treatment and that he did not mention this to the staff who saw him. They also explained that the reasons he had been removed from the practice patient list were that he had previously intimated he was leaving the country and they had received a medication enquiry from another medical practice outwith Scotland. Further, they explained that contact was made to Mr C's registered address and staff were informed he was no longer resident there, and that he had failed to attend a pre-arranged consultation.

We took independent advice from an adviser in general practice medicine and concluded that if there was no indication that a patient required immediate medical attention then there was no requirement for a GP to see a patient immediately. In addition, as the practice had confirmed that Mr C was no longer at the address stated then it would be reasonable for them to remove him from the practice patient list. The clinical records substantiated the explanations provide by the practice. We did not uphold the complaints.

Updated: March 13, 2018