Overview
The complainant (Mrs C) complained that both her mother (Mrs A)'s GP Practice (the Practice) and Templar Day Hospital (Hospital 1) failed to examine Mrs A thoroughly enough to correctly diagnose her broken hip. She felt that Mrs A suffered unnecessary pain and limited mobility due to incomplete examinations and assumptions being made by staff of both bodies.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) the Practice misdiagnosed Mrs A's broken hip as arthritis (not upheld);
- (b) the Practice failed to follow correct procedures to consider any problems other than arthritis (not upheld); and
- (c) Hospital 1 staff failed to diagnose Mrs A's broken hip prior to, or during, months of physiotherapy (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that Lothian NHS Board (the Board) review Hospital 1's admissions procedures to ensure that all patients receive a full diagnostic assessment prior to the commencement of treatment.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.