Decision Report 201905266

Summary

C attended Dr Gray's Hospital after experiencing sudden pain in their knee. C said that, on both occasions, they advised hospital staff they had extreme heat and swelling on the front of their leg. C had a history of varicose veins (swollen and enlarged veins that usually occur on the legs and feet) and requested that their leg be scanned on both occasions, but this did not happen.

C later travelled abroad. Whilst abroad, C was diagnosed with a deep-vein thrombosis (DVT, a blood clot in a vein). They underwent emergency surgery and had stent filters inserted to prevent the clots reaching their lungs, heart or brain. C said that they and their family suffered extreme trauma and worry about the expense of being hospitalised abroad and C has suffered mental and physical health issues since returning home.

C complained that the board failed to carry out a reasonable assessment of their leg symptoms during their two hospital attendances.

We took independent advice from a consultant in emergency medicine. We found that C was appropriately reviewed during their hospital attendances. We noted that whilst it was possible that a DVT was present at this point, it was more likely that it developed during C’s long-haul flight. There was no indication during C’s hospital attendances that a scan or x-ray of their legs should have been carried out. We did not uphold C's complaint.