Decision Report 202100803

Summary

C complained that there was an avoidable delay by staff at a community hospital in referring them to the specialist clinic at the local general hospital when they suffered a detached retina. C attended four consultations at the community hospital before they were referred to the specialist clinic and they felt that the delay had had an adverse effect on their sight. The board maintained that appropriate treatment was provided.

We took independent advice from an ophthalmology (the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye) adviser. We found that the clinicians at the community hospital had taken advice from specialists at the general hospital and had monitored C’s condition by regular ultrasound scans. When C’s condition deteriorated and evidence of retinal detachment was found on a scan, C was referred to the specialist for continuing treatment. We therefore did not uphold the complaint.