Investigation Report 200600033

  • Report no:
    200600033
  • Date:
    June 2007
  • Body:
    Western Isles NHS Board
  • Sector:
    Health

Overview

The complainant (Mrs C) raised a number of concerns about the care which her diabetic husband (Mr C) had received when he attended the Western Isles Hospital (Hospital 1) with serious foot ischaemia.  Mrs C complained about a consultant’s (Consultant 1) behaviour, the delay in referring Mr C to the Consultant Vascular Surgeon (Consultant 2) and that unsuitable medication was prescribed to her husband.

Specific complaints and conclusions

The complaints which have been investigated are that:

  • (a)  Consultant 1's behaviour was inappropriate when he explained the results of his examination to Mr and Mrs C (no finding);
  • (b)  Consultant 1 delayed writing to Consultant 2 after seeing Mr C (not upheld);
  • (c)  Consultant 1 did not reflect the urgency of Mr C's condition in his referral to Consultant 2 (upheld); and
  • (d)  Consultant 1 prescribed Voltarol to Mr C and this is not suitable for diabetics (not upheld).

Redress and recommendations

The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:

  • (i)  review its procedures for urgent referrals; and
  • (ii)  apologise to Mr and Mrs C for their failure to adequately convey the urgency of Mr C's condition in their letter of referral.

 

The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.

Updated: December 11, 2018