Decision Report 202104334

Summary

C complained about the care and treatment their late parent (A) received. A had a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer and was transferred to the Western General Hospital for urgent treatment of metastatic lung cancer. This was during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortly after A's admission, the patient in the bay beside A was confirmed positive for COVID-19. A received a test for COVID-19 and was discharged home. A was then made aware that they had COVID-19. A's condition deteriorated and they died.

C complained about the placement of A within an amber zone, rather than a green zone at the hospital. C was also concerned that A was placed in a bay beside the other patient, who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

We sought independent advice from a consultant oncologist (a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer). We noted that the COVID-19 guidance in place at the time required NHS Boards to have COVID/Non-COVID areas and provided examples of pathways for how NHS Boards might separate patients. The guidance was not prescriptive and each NHS Board had to decide how to apply the guidance to the different hospital environments within their area. We found that the board’s internal pathways were consistent with the pathways set out in the guidance. Given that A did not meet the criteria for a low risk/green zone within the hospital, we found it was reasonable to place A in an amber zone based on the information known at the time. We therefore did not uphold this aspect of the complaint.

We recognised how distressing it must have been for C to learn that their parent had contracted COVID-19 while in hospital. To assess this aspect of C's complaint we obtained the relevant clinical records for the other patient and shared these with the independent adviser. We found that the symptoms the other patient was exhibiting were not thought to be due to COVID-19 and we did not identify any failure regarding the placement of A beside this patient. We therefore did not uphold this aspect of the complaint.