Overview
The complainant raised a number of concerns about the care and treatment that her mother received in Vale of Leven hospital (Hospital 1) prior to her death.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) medical and nursing staff were not able to tell Mrs C what was wrong with her mother and did not seem to recognise that her condition was deteriorating rapidly (partially upheld);
- (b) it was inappropriate to prescribe five antibiotics (not upheld);
- (c) it was inappropriate to use a catheter when her mother had a urine infection (not upheld); and
- (d) it was inappropriate to perform a CT scan because her mother was too ill, and that no account was taken of the fact that her mother was claustrophobic culminating in her having a panic attack (not upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board emphasise to staff the importance of communicating with relatives and of keeping an appropriate note of what was said.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.