Decision Report 201705814

Summary

Mr C complained about the treatment he received for an injury to his achilles tendon (a band of connective tissue joining the heel bone to the calf muscle) at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary. In particular, Mr C considered that there was a delay in referring him for surgery to repair his achilles tendon. Mr C also complained that, after his surgery, he was not given appropriate treatment for the problems he experienced with the surgical wound.

We took independent advice from a consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon (a doctor who diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions of the musculoskeletal system). We found that it was reasonable that Mr C was initially given conservative (non-surgical) treatment for his injury, by way of a cast. We did not consider there was an unreasonable delay in referring Mr C for surgery on his achilles tendon. The adviser explained that Mr C was at particular risk of the surgical wound being slow to heal. We considered that the treatment Mr C received for his difficulties with the wound was reasonable.

We did not uphold Mr C's complaints.