Decision Report 201604047

Summary

Mr C complained on behalf of his daughter (Miss A). He complained that there had been an unreasonable delay in her receiving treatment for a foot injury at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

We took independent advice from a consultant orthopaedic paediatric surgeon. We found that an appropriate initial referral and examination of Miss A's foot had been carried out and that an appropriate treatment plan had been instigated, which included the use of interventional radiology treatment (treatment that is used to precisely target therapy to affected areas). However, we found that due to staff shortages there was an unreasonable delay in Miss A receiving interventional radiology treatment at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. We found that there were a series of cancellations and that it was then decided that Miss A should be referred onto another board for treatment. We found that there was also a delay in sending that referral. We upheld Mr C's complaint.

Recommendations

What we asked the organisation to do in this case:

• Apologise to Miss A for the delay in initiating treatment.

What we said should change to put things right in future:

• Patients requiring interventional radiology treatment should receive treatment in a timely manner or be referred to an alternative provider, such as another NHS board.

We have asked the organisation to provide us with evidence that they have implemented the recommendations we have made on this case by the deadline we set.