Decision Report 201802959

Summary

Ms C complained about the treatment she received from the practice in response to her symptoms of oedema (swollen tissue from retained fluid). Ms C said that she had reported symptoms to the practice on numerous occasions. Ms C said there was an unreasonable delay in responding to her symptoms. During an appointment with a GP Ms C was told to stop a certain medication. Ms C said that during the appointment she was not given proper instructions or after care, i.e. to get her blood pressure checked. A few weeks later, after a severe headache, it was found that Ms C's blood pressure was too high and she required hospital admission.

We took independent medical advice from a GP. We found that Ms C's treatment by the practice was reasonable and found no failings in the treatment offered. The practice considered Ms C's symptoms, taking into account her overall medical hisotry and chronic illnesses when considering appropriate action to respond to Ms C's reports of oedema. Therefore, we did not uphold this part of Ms C's complaint.

Ms C also complained that the board failed to provide reasonable after care, specifically that her blood pressure should be checked. There was no written record or evidence to support the practice's view that appropriate information was provided to Ms C regarding having her blood pressure checked. Therefore, we upheld this part of Ms C's complaint.

Recommendations

What we asked the organisation to do in this case:

• Apologise to Mrs C for the failings identified by the investigation. The apology should meet the standards set out inthe SPSO guidelines on apology available at www.spso.org.uk/leaflets-and-guidance

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

• The GP meets the standard of good record-keeping.