Overview
The complainant (Mr C) raised a complaint regarding the length of time he had been advised he would have to wait to see a Neurologist within the former Argyll and Clyde NHS Board (the Board), after his General Practitioner (GP 1) had requested a routine referral on his behalf when he presented with a clinical picture of a six to eight month history of a constant ache in his arm.
Specific complaint and conclusion
The complaint which has been investigated is that the waiting time for a Neurology out-patient appointment was too long (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that:
- (i) the Board should ensure GPs and potential referrers are reminded how to find up to date local waiting times for out-patient services they are referring to within the Board so that, as referrers, they may prioritise their patients accordingly. She asks that the Board advise her of the measures that are put in place, or have been introduced, to facilitate this; and
- (ii) as one of several factors, some formal consideration should be given to the age of the patient being referred to a lengthy waiting list, where a list is unavoidably long. She asks that the Board tell her what they have implemented.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.