Decision Report 202101690

Summary

C complained about the care and treatment provided to their late child (A) by their GP practice. A had attended the practice on several occasions over a five month period with persisting chest symptoms. C complained that the practice failed to recognise the severity of A's symptoms or recognise that symptoms were indicative of a serious cardiac condition until A's health had significantly deteriorated. A subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest resulting in them being transferred to another health board for surgery, where they later died.

We took independent advice from a GP adviser. Although we noted that there had been a delay of a few days in responding to A's x-ray report, we found that the practice's care of A was reasonable, with referrals and tests being timeously arranged and in keeping with A's presenting symptoms at the time. Therefore, we did not uphold the complaint.