Festive closure

We will close at 5pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopen at 9am Friday 3 January 2025. You can still submit complaints through our online form, but we won't respond until we reopen.

Decision Report 201703637

  • Case ref:
    201703637
  • Date:
    October 2018
  • Body:
    Lothian NHS Board - Acute Division
  • Sector:
    Health
  • Outcome:
    Not upheld, no recommendations
  • Subject:
    clinical treatment / diagnosis

Summary

Ms C complained about the care and treatment she received at St John's Hospital following breast surgery. In particular, that the board failed to listen to her when she asked for medication for the pain she was experiencing, failed to provide appropriate medication to address her pain and failed to appropriately recognise and act on seeing her red wristband for known allergies to certain painkillers.

We took independent advice from a consultant in general medicine and a senior nurse. We found that Ms C's records suggested medical and nursing staff had listened to her regarding her post-operative symptoms, made appropriate changes to her pain medication and provided a reasonable level of care. We also found that staff were aware of Ms C's allergies and acted appropriately. We considered that Ms C's care was reasonable and did not uphold her complaint.

Updated: December 2, 2018