Decision Report 201808114

Summary

Mr C complained about the care his mother-in-law (Mrs A) received at Victoria Infirmary Hospital. Mrs A has emphysema (a lung condition that causes shortness of breath) and has particular difficulty with her breathing when moving around. Mr C raised concern that when he made enquiries about Mrs A receiving ambulatory oxygen therapy (the use of supplementary oxygen during exercise and activities of daily living) it was unreasonably refused.

We took independent advice from a consultant physician in general and respiratory medicine. We found that it was reasonable for board staff to have reached the view that ambulatory oxygen was not indicated in accordance with guidance issued by the British Thoracic Society. We, therefore, did not uphold the complaint. However, we also considered that board staff should have offered Mrs A a second opinion and so we provided feedback to the board for reflection in this respect.