Decision Report 201802964

Summary

Mrs C complained about the care provided to her late sister (Mrs A) when she attended Raigmore Hospital with gastric symptoms. Investigations were carried out into Mrs A's symptoms over two admissions. During the latter admission, Mrs A was diagnosed with a perforated bowel, thought to be related to cancer. Her condition deteriorated very quickly and she died from her illness.

We took independent advice from a consultant gastroenterologist (a doctor who specialises in the digestive system) and from a registered nurse.

We did not identify any failings in the medical management of Mrs A's condition or in the nursing care provided. We did not uphold this aspect of the complaint. However, we noted that the documentation of her care could have been more detailed and fed this back to the board.

Mrs C was also unhappy that board staff did not contact her regarding Mrs A's discharge from the hospital following her first admission. In response to Mrs C's complaint, the board confirmed that another family member had been told about the discharge and so there was no requirement for duplication of information. We did not uphold this aspect of the complaint.