Decision Report 201707184

Summary

Ms C, an advocacy worker, complained on behalf of her client (Ms A) about the care and treatment provided by the board in relation to a respiratory (breathing) condition. Ms C complained that Ms A had been unreasonably discharged from the care of a lung specialist when the specialist left the board. She also raised concerns about the medical and nursing care provided when Ms A was admitted to Hairmyres Hospital. Finally, Ms C complained that the follow-up Ms A received at Monklands Hospital was unreasonable and that the board's response to the subsequent complaint was unreasonable.

We took independent advice from a respiratory consultant. We found that as Ms  A's condition was stable, it was reasonable to discharge her when the lung specialist left the board. The discharge letter provided advice to Ms A's GP that if her symptoms progressed, she should be re-referred as a new patient. We also found no failings in the medical care and treatment that Ms A received either as an in-patient or in follow-up as an out-patient. Therefore, we did not uphold these parts of Ms C's complaint.

We took independent advice from a nursing adviser in relation to Ms A's concerns about nursing staff. We found that the nursing care that was provided to Ms A was reasonable. We did not uphold this part of Ms C's complaint.

Finally, we found that the response to Ms A's complaint was reasonable and considered that it addressed the points listed in her original complaint. Therefore, we did not uphold this part of Ms C's complaint.